The HOT Leadership Glossary

HOT Leadership

A people-first leadership practice created by Reena Narayan. It uses the language of temperature, hot versus cold, to describe the emotional environment a leader creates for their team.

Leadership Temperature

The emotional environment a leader creates through their words, tone, reactions, and behaviours, whether consciously or not. It shifts constantly and can run hot or cold.

Hot Room

An environment where people feel seen, energized, and motivated to bring their full potential. Ideas are welcomed, mistakes are safe to make, and people go above and beyond willingly.

Cold Room

An environment of caution, compliance, and quiet disengagement, often created without the leader realising it. Ideas stay unshared, mistakes become risks to hide, and people do the minimum to get through the day.

Notice, Reset, Choose

The three-step daily practice at the heart of HOT Leadership. Notice your temperature, reset yourself and the room, then choose how to show up.

The Hijack

The moment pressure takes over and pulls a leader cold before they have chosen it. Noticing the hijack is the first step of the daily practice.

Safety

One of the three conditions of a hot room. The question behind it: am I turning thinking and voices on? Without safety, ideas stay hidden.

Connection

One of the three conditions of a hot room. The question behind it: am I seeing the human behind the work? Built in small repeated moments, not grand gestures.

Ownership

One of the three conditions of a hot room. The question behind it: am I unleashing their capability? Hot leaders create conditions where people step forward because they care, not because they were asked.

People-First Leadership

Leadership that keeps people at the centre of every decision, even under pressure. People-first ignites potential, passion and performance.

Pressure-First Leadership

Leadership that becomes task-focused and human-last once pressure takes over, usually without the leader intending it. Pressure-first shuts down potential, passion and performance.

Lead HOT, Not Cold

The tagline of the HOT Leadership practice, summarising its core choice: leaders can notice their temperature and choose to lead hot instead of cold.