He led Scotland. Now he’s building better leaders one brutal truth at a time. From test matches to Tokyo Bay, Greig Laidlaw shares what leadership really looks like when ego’s out, pressure’s on, and you’ve got no place to hide.

What happens when the armband comes off and the clipboard goes on?

Former Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw has seen leadership from every angle: on the pitch, in the locker room, and now in the coach’s box in Japan.

In this episode, Greig gets painfully honest about the cost of poor leadership, why some captains shouldn’t be captains, and what it really takes to build belief in yourself and your team.

This isn’t a highlight reel it’s a deep dive into cultural collisions, emotional discipline, and the fine line between authority and authenticity.

Why listen to this episode

If you think leadership is about having the loudest voice in the room, this episode might hurt your feelings. And that’s the point.

• ​You’ve been handed the title, but not the tools
• ​You want to build a team culture that actually works under pressure
• ​You’re trying to lead in a culture that doesn’t like being questioned
• ​You’re still figuring out how to lead without losing yourself
• ​You want to hear from someone who’s done the hard yards and still says, “Here’s what I’m shit at”

“Sometimes leadership isn’t about stepping up it’s about stepping back.”Because great leaders don’t need the armband to lead.

“We said yes… but we didn’t mean it. We were just being polite.”Culture clash 101: politeness ≠ alignment.

“He was a better leader the minute we took the captaincy off him.”Titles don't make leaders. Sometimes they ruin them.

“Stop blaming the lack of leaders. Start building them.”Call HR. That one left a bruise.

“If you let others lead, they’ll surprise you. If you don’t, they won’t.”Control is not the same as leadership. It’s just anxiety in uniform.

“Am I doing the right thing here? Am I qualified?”Spoiler: That’s what real leaders ask themselves. Not the loud ones.

“Ego is the enemy and if you don’t check it, the game will.”Turns out the pitch is better at spotting arrogance than your performance review.

“The best players walk the line between control and chaos—and never tip red.”This isn’t just rugby. This is emotional intelligence under fire.