Delivering people development with real world results 🚀📈 | Mt. Blanc & Mt. Cotopaxi Summiteer 🏔️ | IRONMAN 70.3 finisher 🏊‍♂️🚴🏃🏻| IRONMAN in training

For 20 years, I helped leaders get better at leading.

I built a successful consultancy. Worked with high-growth scale-ups, as well as Amazon, Coca-Cola, and DHL. Delivered keynotes across three continents. Watched brilliant managers transform their teams.

I was good at it. Made a 7-figure business doing it.

But here's what kept me up at night: most of what I was teaching people didn't stick. They'd leave my workshops inspired, return to work overwhelmed, and by Tuesday the habits I'd spent days teaching them were gone.

The HR leaders who hired me knew it too. They'd spend millions on training that delivered maybe 10% ROI. But what else could they do? Traditional leadership development; workshops, courses, and quarterly check-ins was all that existed.

After hundreds of those conversations, I realized something: the entire model is wrong.

Leadership doesn't happen in classrooms. It happens in real moments:

📌 Difficult conversations
📌 Delegation decisions 
📌 Team conflicts

That's when managers need support. Not three months later in a conference room.

So in 2025, I did something terrifying. I walked away from it all to build what I wished had existed.

I'm now Founder & CEO of Atherio, the AI-powered platform that's replacing traditional leadership development with something that actually works. 

✅ Real-time support. 
✅ Embedded in your work. 
✅ Building habits daily, not quarterly.

We're backed by advisors from Kellogg and London Business School, working with a select group of pilot partners. And we're on a mission to transform 1 million+ employees into super-workers.

If you're tired of leadership development that doesn't work, let's talk. 

📧 ben@atheriohq.com
🌐 www.atheriohq.com

Still delivering keynotes on leadership, performance, and why the future of L&D looks nothing like the past.

Ben Stocken

Crazy hard is addictive...and here's an example:
Somehow I've ended up with 28 people who have agreed to climb Everest in a day, in Wales! 😆 

That's 28 clever, rationale humans who responded to my original post on here (link to it in the comments). 

-They've agreed to push themselves further.
-To summit Snowdon 4 times in 24 hours.
-Everest basecamp to summit.
-In one day.
-Mad.

My post asked for 5 people and I got flooded with 50+ replies!

We're now planning, plotting and supporting each other in a WhatsApp group.

Here's the cool thing:
I've never met some of these people, but LinkedIn helped me create this little tribe of adventurers. 

Some of us will make it, some of us won't, but I truly believe that the joy here is in the struggle, the unknown and the community. 

Want to join us? 
DM me for more info. 

📌 Repost to grow your network.
📌 Follow Ben Stocken for more like this.
📌 Check out my new podcast "The Human Loop"
📌 1 x Quote: whether you think you can, or you can't, you're right.

Ex England Rugby | 20 years developing leaders. Now replacing what doesn’t work with Atherio | Founder & CEO, Atherio 🚀

7 ultra endurance events in 4 years…all to get my ass kicked by a 9 year old. 

The truth is: I couldn’t be happier about it.

Here’s the challenges that I’ve completed since this all began in 2021…

-Welsh 3000s
-Marbella Half IronMan 
-Submitted Mont Blanc
-Barcelona Full IronMan
-The Marathon Des Sables 
-Ride25 Leg 3 - Geneva to Milan
-Ride25 Leg 4 - Milan to Rome

Yesterday, following my eldest around the Maverick New Forest Trail run, the penny finally dropped…

All of my accomplishments, training and misery mid event have been preparing me to help the next generation achieve their dreams and fulfill their potential.

My journey now, is to succeed at this.

It’s the same in business leadership.

The ultimate role of a manager is to unlock the next generation of talent, isn’t it?

📌 Repost to grow your network.
📌 Follow Ben Stocken for more like this.
📌 Check out my new podcast "The Human Loop"
📌 Whether you think you can, or you can't, you're right.

No alternative text description for this image

The funniest and most dangerous reply I had to a DM last week…

There are some insanely narrow minded views on what it takes to create high performing teams in businesses.

It’s a mindset like this that limits how great a business can be.

Can you do it yourself in house? 

-Yes.

Should you?

-Maybe.

Is this the reason to do it yourself?

-Hell NO!

🤣🤣🤣

25 reasons you’ve got to find your Marathon Des Sables this year…


1️⃣ We don’t suffer enough day to day.

We’ve adapted our lives to be more efficient, faster and easier. Finding a challenge that relies on you overcoming prolonged physical and mental suffering sculpts a resilience that will stand you apart from the pack.

2️⃣ If you think you can’t, try it.

Focusing on one singular goal gives you laser focus and allows you to measure what matters. Going a step further and attempting a goal that you might fail at provides you a chance to explore your potential.

3️⃣ The process is most important.

I’ve done more research and prep on the MDS than on anything else this year. When the goal is huge and the stakes are high your process levels up. You get smarter at strategy and tactics.

4️⃣ Win or loose, you’ll have more fun.

I’ll call this the F*ck it effect. At the end of the day life is here to be lived and loved. None of us are getting out alive. If you achieve the goal great, if you do everything right and miss, then you’ve had one hell of a journey.

5️⃣ The brotherhood of the tent effect.

This has been everything to me at the MDS. I’ve truly added 7 brothers to my family in the last 11 days and the bond created through shared suffering and ecstasy lasts. Share your challenge with others. It compounds the benefits. Lots more on this later in the week!

So there’s the first 5.
I hope they add value to you.

The rest are in the comments section for you. 👇 

What's the challenge you've set yourself this year?

"Hey mate, when's the coach arriving?"

A dark evening. November 2008. Hammering rain. Floodlights buzzing. I'd spent an hour setting up cones for my first session as a professional rugby coach.

Two 6'5 rugby players walked up to me and asked that question. FML.

I was 20. They were 20. But they saw cones and a clipboard, not a coach.

In one sentence I went from nervous but ready to about two inches tall.

I had a choice: crumble or coach.

I coached.

It was awkward and I could see the players looking for weaknesses, but I'd prepped fully and knew my craft.

By the end of that session, I'd earned enough respect to continue. By the end of the season, we'd broken every goal we set.

But I think about that moment all the time.

Because it's the same moment every new manager faces.

The team is watching. They're asking themselves (sometimes out loud), "is this person actually going to help me, or are they just holding a clipboard?"

Your title doesn't answer that question.

Only what you do next does.

When was the last time you felt two inches tall but pushed through to win the day?
Take a moment to remember that the next time you need it.

- Ben

Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Ben Stocken for more.

li_at

JSESSIONID

Talks about #leadership, #management, #businessgrowth, #managementtraining, and #leadershipdevelopment

You can't afford to miss this episode if you...VALUE YOUR CUSTOMERS! 

Leaders: This is the most valuable conversation you'll listen to this week. 
That title's not even clickbait...

In this week's episode of The Human Loop Podcast I sit down with Andrew Fahey, CEO of Briars to discuss the challenges and opportunities for CEOs in 2026.

He emphasises the importance of realistic optimism for the year ahead. 🚀 

We then explore the role of AI in transforming professional services, the necessity of human skills in a tech-driven world, and the innovative approaches Briars is taking to enhance client experience and internal processes.

You're going to want to heat how they are firmly putting the Human in the Loop of the CS. It's 🔥

Thanks so much for a fun and value packed conversation Andrew!

Enjoy and get ready to take notes!

Thanks to our show sponsor atherio.
Interested in being a guest, or know someone who should be?
DM me today.

Last week 4 managers DM’d me after one masterclass.
All they wanted was a simple truth framework.

Here’s the problem I see every week:
Managers are drowning in noise.
New targets, new platforms, new team dramas.
Their role is moving at rugby speed. 🏉

The worst managers?
Lost in the chaos.

The best ones?
They use a Single Source of Truth.

(Yes, I know… sounds simple. But most don’t have it.)

This is without doubt the most common conundrum coming up when I'm speaking with HRDs and CEOs right now!

"How do we help our managers to be more consistent, drive perfromance, whilst looking after their wellbeing?"

I always ask if they have a Single Source of Truth?
The blank faces tell it all. Then we get to work.

Here’s why a Single Source of Truth matters:
✅ Keeps your team focused on what matters
✅ Drives performance without burning people out
✅ Builds trust-no more “what the hell are we doing?” moments
✅ Empowers smart people to solve smart problems (not just follow orders)

Last week, I shared this on a (TRN) The Recruitment Network masterclass.
4 managers (new and experienced) messaged me afterwards to thank me.

Want the framework?
Hit Like below and Comment “TRUTH” and I’ll send it your way.
Let me know-how do you keep your team aligned when the pace goes full throttle?

P.S. Your monkeys are not your monkeys. 😂
Stop micromanaging-start leading.

📌 Repost to grow your network.
📌 Follow Ben Stocken for more like this.
📌 Check out my new podcast "The Human Loop"
📌 Whether you think you can, or you can't, you're right.

I’ve already had one of those messages:
A new manger on the ropes and wondering how the hell it happened!

Their “dream” January promotion.
Has begun to feel more Hunger Games than happy ending!

Can you relate? 

You step up as manager, pumped for glory...

Then-bam! You hear:
“Congrats on your promotion, here’s your team’s target for 2026.” Cue the icy dread. 🫣

Suddenly you’re not celebrating-you’re gearing up for battle.

Targets flying at you.
Pressure building.
Everyone watching to see if you survive.

It’s less “welcome to the club” and more “may the odds be ever in your favour.” (Chills, right? 😂)

Here’s what most don’t tell you:
→ The real games start AFTER the handshake.
→ You get dropped into the arena with zero prep.
→ Support? LOL. You’re flying solo.

I’ve coached managers for 20 years. Seen too many get blindsided-left scrambling, doubting, burning out. It's why 60% of managers fail in the first 24 months and that's costing businesses million every year!

It’s not fair.
It’s not how leadership should work.
It's killing your businesses health and growth.

Managers deserve real support, not just a pat on the back and a mountain of expectations.

What helped you survive your first promotion?
Share your war stories below or DM me if you need backup.

📌 Repost to grow your network.
📌 Follow Ben Stocken for more like this.
📌 Check out my new podcast "The Human Loop"
📌 Whether you think you can, or you can't, you're right.

Furious, Stretched or Accelerating Architect - Do you know which you are right now? 

Every manager and leaders goes through these stages. 
And every time you nail getting to Accelerating Architect, guess what?

The world changes and you have to start again at Furious Founder, just higher up on the performance curve. Getting it now?

My 3 phase model helps you become more self aware. 
Being more self aware is the first step to development.
Development leads to increased performance.
Performance leads to better outcomes.

Which are you today? 
How can you get to the next level?

All leadership lives and dies on delegation.
The Biggest Problem: Most get it wrong and don't know why...

Every week I see two extremes of managers destroying their teams...and it's often not their fault.

They're part of the 80%+ that haven't been trained to lead. They're doing their best whilst also being an IC.

So what's really going wrong?

-Micromanagement: "I'll do it myself."
-Abdication: "Figure it out, I'm too busy to help."

Both destroy teams. Both create cultures of fear.

I've watched this pattern for 20 years form my work with England Rugby, to the FTSE 250 and hyper growth companies I support.

The micromanager suffocates their team.
Checks every email.
Rewrites every deck.
Wonders why their high performers quit.

The abdicator dumps tasks and disappears.
Shows up two weeks later wondering why nothings done.
Blames the team for "not taking initiative."

Neither extreme works.
But there's a third way, and it works every-time.

SMART Delegation: The Fix

S – Specific outcome, not vague hopes!
❌ Micromanager: "Send me every version for review"
❌ Abdicator: "Improve our retention"
✅ The fix: "Build exit interview process, analyse 6-month trends, present 3 recommendations by March 15"

M – Measure of success defined NOW.
❌ Micromanager: Success = "exactly how I would've done it"
❌ Abdicator: Never defines success, just complains later
✅ The fix: "What does excellent look like? How will we both know you nailed this?"

A – Authority level crystal clear.
❌ Micromanager: "Run everything by me first"
❌ Abdicator: "You own it" (then overrules their decision)
✅ The fix: "You can decide X, recommend on Y, just update me on Z"

R – Resources identified and committed.
❌ Micromanager: "You have everything you need - me reviewing every step"
❌ Abdicator: "Figure it out with what you have"
✅ The fix: "Here's your budget, stakeholder access, and my time for these checkpoints"

T – Timeline with checkpoints, not chaos
❌ Micromanager: Daily status updates, constant interruptions
❌ Abdicator: "Done by Friday" then radio silence
✅ The fix: "Draft Tuesday, review Thursday, final Friday"

Delegation is a SuperPower.
It's not about control OR abandonment.
It's a structured handoff that builds capability.

Company's invest millions in hiring, projects and incentives but never measures whether managers actually stop micromanaging or abdicating.

What are you measuring to know if they're getting better?

📌 Repost to grow your network.
📌 Follow Ben Stocken for more like this.
📌 Check out my new podcast "The Human Loop"
📌 1 x Quote: whether you think you can, or you can't, you're right.

We take successful men and make them uncommon

I take successful men from burnout to balance.

Your LinkedIn profile says you’re on the path to greatness. On paper, you’ve been on a strong upward trajectory: Big house. Nice car. Business is booming.

But something feels off.

Maybe it’s your health and fitness. Maybe it’s your energy and attitude. Your relationship with your family, food, alcohol, or stress.

How you present yourself to the outside world vs how you feel inside just doesn’t match up.

You talk the talk. You’ve got the confidence to keep going. But unless something changes, something’s going to give.

I know because I’ve been there. And I’ve worked with hundreds of men, just like you, to turn it around.

---

Who I Am & What I Do

I’m a father of three, husband, and a business owner.

I get it. The demands. The expectations. I’m in the thick of it, just like you. That’s why I practise exactly what I preach.

My mission is simple: to help high-performing men take back control - physically and mentally - and become the best version of themselves.

Most men know what they should be doing. Few actually do it.

That’s where The Blueprint comes in.

---

How It Works

Over eight weeks, we build Discipline, Routine, and Structure into your life with small, incremental habits that compound over time.

You’ll Take Ownership of your health, performance, and mindset, creating the foundations to thrive.

With High-Impact Accountability, we cut through excuses and uncover what’s really holding you back.

Morning & Evening Routines ensure you start the day focused and end it grounded.

Weekly live coaching sessions push you to Embrace Failure and Adapt to Adversity - because setbacks aren’t roadblocks, they’re part of the process.

This isn’t about hacks or quick fixes.

It’s about showing up, doing the work, and learning to thrive - no matter what life throws at you.

---

The Results

With my coaching programmes, you’ll perform better at work, be more present at home, and show up for your family in a way that truly matters.

High performance means something different to every man I work with. But one thing always remains true:

It’s not about chasing some ideal version of yourself in the future. It’s about living as the man you want to be - right now.

The Obstacle is ALWAYS The Way.

---

Want In?

Send me a DM and let's chat.

Luke Doran

Happy Birthday to me 🥳, the princely age of 41.

F*** the mid-life crisis; I love my life.

I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, with anyone else, doing anything else.

Getting older is ace; if you’re content with what you have and doing it with the people you love.

And I am.

On. We. Go.

Performance coach. I take successful men from burnout to balance.

Low carb. Keto. Bulking. Cutting. Chicken smoothie. Magic mushrooms.

Looking back at some of the things I’ve done in pursuit of health, happiness, or a better body might make you laugh.

Some of them were absolutely ridiculous #chickensmoothie

But I’ve been there. I’ve made the mistakes. And after years of working with hundreds of men, I know what actually works.

I can save you from the madness.

That is, if you’re doing anything at all.

Because if you’re sticking your head in the sand as another new year rolls round.

Ignoring your mental and physical health…

Brushing off those telltale signs - tighter belt, shorter temper and creeping dissatisfaction.

Hoping it’ll all ‘sort itself out’.

What you’re doing right now is far worse - and far more ridiculous - than any of my stupid experiments ever were.

With The One Percent Blueprint, you can build a life (and a body) you’re proud of - without the chicken smoothies.

Hit the link it my profile if you’re ready to stop avoiding and get started.

2026 is in business and the first week in January boxed off at The One Percent HQ.

- Bezzies over for lunch
- Turned 41
- Birthday breakfast of champions
- New office / podcast studio built
- Client Wins
- Rugby with Nino
- 6am morning Monopoly with Cleo

Outcomes drift. Habits hold everything up.

Your New Year resolutions might be on point.

But if you haven’t thought about how you’ll achieve them, you probably won’t.

Learn how to stack the habits.

The outcomes follow.

(If this is where you usually get stuck, the link’s in my bio.)

“We suffer more in imagination than we do in reality.”

That’s the quote that came up as Mark Eshelby reflected on what had actually changed.

Because when we first spoke, things weren’t catastrophic - but they weren’t great either.

Life was hectic, busy and reactive.

Mark came in wanting discipline. To feel sharper. To get back in control.

And he built it - through consistent habits, better structure, and accountability.

But what surprised him was everything else he found along the way:

- Journaling and reflection that created clarity
- Standards that helped him show up better across the board
- And a mindset built on purpose - not pressure

We talk about:

- Why red wine and overthinking won’t solve your stress
- The power of stoicism and writing things down, to stop repeating patterns
- How to move from knowing what to do - to actually doing it
- And why calm, disciplined leadership starts with yourself

🎧 Episode 47 of The One Percent Podcast with Mark Eshelby is out now on all major platforms.

Search The One Percent or hit the links in the comments below.

And if you’re ready to stop reacting and start leading yourself with purpose - message me BLUEPRINT and let’s talk.

taplio

The Battle

Ben Stocken

Luke Doran

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreBen Stocken's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreLuke Doran's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Ben Stocken

Luke Doran

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Ben Stocken's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreLuke Doran's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreBen Stocken's LinkedIn Performance