The Dynamic Leader Podcast

In today’s conversation Shelley speaks with Daniele Lezzi, who is a senior leader on a mission, with a goal to redefine customer service from a traditional retail operating model to a seamless omni channel conversational commerce experience powered by great people and enabled by AI.

Reflecting on his leadership journey, Daniele shares how, as an introvert, he navigated the challenges of stepping out of his comfort zone to collaborate with seasoned retail professionals.

He emphasises the importance of humility over ego in leadership and highlights the value of continuous learning from those with greater experience.

In this engaging conversation with Jamie Anderson, an accomplished professional with a multifaceted background spanning entrepreneurship, academia and keynote speaking, we discuss the profound significance of mentorship for leaders and individuals alike. 

Hailing from Australia but currently residing in Belgium, Jamie shares his invaluable insights on the transformative power of mentorship, drawn from his diverse experiences as a hotel and art gallery owner, academic and author. 

His purpose, defined by supporting individuals to strive for their highest aspirations, stems from a childhood deeply influenced by his mother, instilling in him the values of selflessly supporting others. He highlights the essence of being a role model without explicit mentorship, stressing the alignment between leadership ideals and authentic actions as pivotal for making a genuine impact on those we lead. 

Jamie’s journey not only illustrates the potency of mentorship but also emphasises the subtle qualities that make a mentor relationship truly impactful and enduring.

In this episode Shelley has a thought-provoking conversation with David Fish, a globally renowned strategist driven by a desire to bring simplicity to the complex and make it easier to communicate the value of any solution. 

They delve into the essence of human conversations… conversations that we think about, make connections through and find relevance and emotion in.

One simple take away for all communication or for creating a narrative is ‘logic is always your friend’. Starting with a clear, organised concept and systematically unpacking the details can boost comprehension by a staggering 40%.

David walks us through how we navigate through the ups and downs until we get to a resolution.

In this conversation, Shelley has the pleasure of delving into the world of transformation and strategy with Adam Bennett, the Principal of Great Change Consulting. With over three decades of experience at the forefront of navigating disruption, Adam's passion has been guiding individuals through the journey of change and transformation.

He challenges that we have yet to peach peak change, drawing attention to the colossal macro forces shaping our world—climate change, population shifts, geopolitics and the imminent impact of AI on global supply chains and decision-making.

Adam's insight is profound; he believes there is more change ahead of us than there is behind us. It's a perspective that challenges us to view this impending transformation as either punitive or a remarkable opportunity.

Adam talks us through strategies, empowering both individuals and leaders to embrace accountability and ensure their professional relevance amidst the impending waves of change.

Grab a copy of Adam's book: Great Change - The way to get big strategy done:

Shelley loves a random conversation. Today’s guest is Kim O’Keeffe, who she met on a plane earlier this year on a trip to Brisbane. After a great conversation on the plane, they found they had a lot in common on their thoughts around leadership, professional growth and careers.

Kim, the ever-curious and optimistic spirit, is currently the State Member for Parliament for Shepparton District. A true community champion, she's devoted to fighting for her electorate's needs and supporting the people of Shepparton.

Growing up in the embrace of regional Victoria, Kim's roots run deep, instilling in her a strong sense of connection to her community. It's clear that her upbringing has shaped her passion for serving her constituents and advocating for their well-being.

Kim's journey, starting at the tender age of 15, was guided by inspiring mentors who encouraged her to envision a future and map out her path. Words like "good people don't stand still" were the catalyst for her entrepreneurial aspirations.

The influence of others and their belief in her have been driving forces, propelling her toward seizing opportune moments.

Connect with Kim: https://www.kimokeeffe.com.au/

In this episode, Shelley speaks with Grayson James, a seasoned expert with over three decades of experience assisting Executives, Boards and Senior Management teams in enhancing their collaborative business performance.

A common misconception is that effective collaboration hinges on the level of cooperation exhibited by our colleagues—a notion Grayson opposes, considering it a costly oversight. To Shelley, the term 'collaboration' is often carelessly tossed around in many workplaces. Grayson simplifies it to 'working together with other people to get important stuff done,' an essence critical to the existence of organisations.

Delving deeper, they consider whether the rising emphasis on collaboration aligns with a decline in hierarchical structures. Grayson has seen a shift over recent years in the nature of interactions and expectations, steering away from the top-down command and control model, which does not fly anymore, especially by the younger generation.

Embracing a collaborative leadership approach, Grayson acknowledges the necessity of command and control, consensus, or even no consensus, depending on the given context.

The true challenge lies in how we discern what is needed at this time and to pivot and respond effectively in the given situation’.

In this thought-provoking episode, Shelley engages in a conversation with Ella Zhang, a dedicated strategic change maker, facilitator and executive coach with extensive experience in both fortune 100 companies and start-ups.

The focus of their discussion is the profound link between self-care and success, delving into the correlation between inward self-awareness and its profound impact on outward outcomes. Ella, the author of the book 'Upgrade,' passionately explores how our thoughts, emotions and actions bear direct consequences that ripple across our organisations and interpersonal dynamics. She advocates that understanding this crucial link between self-care and success is paramount for modern leaders.

The emergence of self-reflection and personal growth in leadership development has gained momentum in recent years. Ella emphasises the need to intertwine professional and personal development, gaining insights into our own cognitive and behavioural patterns to prevent self-sabotage. Often the challenges we are facing are not from the outside world, but self-imposed. It is through overcoming and 'upgrading' these challenges, adjusting our habitual reactions, that we can enhance our effectiveness as leaders.

She underlines the essential aspect of managing and taking ownership of our time, energy and performance to become the inspirational leaders that others need us to be.

Culture is something we could endlessly explore, there are so many different perspectives and opinions.

In this episode, Shelley talks with Lisa Carlin about working within your culture, as opposed to changing it.

Lisa is a strategy execution specialist and the co-founder of Future Builders Group, a network of organisational development specialists.  She works with Leaders to turbo charge their transformation projects and change.

Strategy execution, Transformation, Change, Projects, implementation, cultural change, digital transformation – these words all mean something slightly different and they mean something different to each individual. They all motivate a feeling of ‘let’s do something significant to move forward’.

Lisa’s first step to developing her transformation journey began in South Africa the 1990's when she started working in systems development. This encouraged a curiosity in change management. Following this, she started working for McKinsey on strategy projects. The firm delivered amazing strategy work, but just like systems development, didn’t always go as planned because due to people.

After moving to Australia, Lisa started working for a culture change organisation where ideas from a transcendental, meditation movement where used to developed ‘culture in the workplace’.  Culture was not used or understood in the workplace in these years and it inspired Lisa to start her own business combining all the different skills learnt over the years.

Lisa's learnings in strategy, technology, culture and people work, led her to create a multidisciplinary transformation perspective.

There are three stages to multidisciplinary transformation and Lisa will guide you through these during the conversation.

In this episode, Shelley speaks with Mei Ouw and Kylie Ryan, two remarkable experts in emotional leadership.  Shelley delves into the profound impact of emotions on the way we lead in the workplace and live our lives. 

Mei, an esteemed executive coach and master trainer of NLP and Spiral and Kylie, the secret weapon behind elite-level coaching, particularly with entrepreneurs, are catalysts for global change. 

Shelley has personally been working with Mei and Kylie on her ‘emotional’ journey and her lessons in emotional clearing and Spiral was transformative.

Spiral, a practitioner-led process is a systematic series of sessions activating and awakening our inherent power bases and specific energy centres, it’s like delving into a series of filing cabinets of different issues. 

In the fast-paced world of leadership, characterised by ceaseless decision-making and complexity, relying solely on the mind can lead to burnout and decision fatigue. Hence, the imperative to bring our whole selves to the workplace and every aspect of our lives. 

In this chat, Shelley sits down for a second time with seasoned operational leader, Wayne Schembri, who has just started in a new role with RMBL after working for his previous organisation for over 17 years.

At the time of this conversation, Wayne has only been in his new role for just a month, and shares some fabulous insights into his approach on culture, people, strategy, systems and processes. 

He shares the discomfort of doing something different after such a long time and the benefit of taking time out between roles to rest, reflect and gain clarity on what you want next.

This is a fabulous conversation for any leader transitioning into a new role.

In this conversation, Shelley engages in a thought-provoking dialogue with Dr. Brett Lillie, a seasoned practitioner with a Chiropractic masters degree, who has spent over two decades fostering wellness in his Sydney clinic. 

Delve into the realms of rediscovering your inner athlete and movement's profound significance in both life and leadership. 

Brett's own journey with movement, from the wilds of his bush upbringing, climbing trees and conquering rocks, to the exhilaration of motorbikes and skateboards, followed by surfing in high school and the endurance challenges of triathlons in university, sets the stage for his insights. 

A turning point arrived during the second year of his master's program, when a debilitating accident shattered his shoulder, leading him through years of arduous rehabilitation and pain. This experience shattered the youthful invincibility, giving rise to a quest for holistic answers beyond the realm of muscles alone. 

As the conversation unfolds, Brett and Shelley explore the intricate connections between chronic pain, the psychological and physical facets, cultural influences, and even the interplay between the mind and body.

In this conversation Shelley speaks with Nina Mapson Bone in an exploration of meaningful work and its role in cultivating fulfilment across our lives and careers.

Nina, a dynamic leader holding positions such as Managing Director at Beaumont People, and President and Chair of the Recruitment Consulting and Staffing Association for Australia and New Zealand, shares her firsthand experience of work's transformative power.

Drawing from her extensive work in recruitment, Nina unveils the remarkable improvement that emerges when individuals are immersed in meaningful work. As the conversation unfolds we discover ‘flow state’, where we work to our strengths and find energy and synergy.

Everyone's journey to meaningful work is unique and this conversation will help explain the four essential ways to achieve this sought-after state of fulfilment.

Tune in to explore the multifaceted world of meaningful work and unlock its potential to elevate your life.

Grab a copy of Nina's book 'Meaningful Work:

In this conversation, Shelley delves into the inspiring narrative of Max Ginpil, whose journey began with an appetite for confronting challenges head-on and embarking on a quest to 'do things better'. 

His aspiration to 'do better', even when others hesitated, propelled Max from a dedicated team player to a visionary team leader and eventually a dynamic divisional leader. Curiosity drove him to ask the pivotal question: "How can we do things better?" 

This curiosity not only fuels his own growth but also ignites a sense of safety and curiosity within those around him, fostering an environment where questions like "why" are not threats, but rather gateways to innovation. 

Max recognises the affect of stifling curiosity, acknowledging that in its absence, rigidity takes root and the very essence of leadership dwindles. 

As we journey through Max's experiences, we are reminded that nurturing a culture of safety and value is essential, empowering individuals to explore new paths, employ their skills in uncharted ways and ultimately become architects of transformative leadership.

In this conversation Shelley talks with the remarkable Peter Baines to unravel why leadership truly matters. After following Peter's journey for many years it was such a pleasure to learn more about him as the founder of the charity Hands Across the Water. 

This extraordinary organisation was born in the wake of the heart-wrenching 2004 tsunami in Thailand to help children left orphaned, raising an astonishing $33 million along the way. But there's more to Peter's story. 

For 22-years, Peter worked within the Police Force in the elite Forensics Service Area in NSW, where he played an integral role in the aftermath of events like the Bali Bombings and the Thailand tsunami. 

Their conversation delves into the heart of leadership dynamics, shedding light on the delicate balance between wielding control and igniting the fires of collective purpose. 

It’s an invigorating discussion that explores the very fabric of leadership, as they debunk the notion of 'do as you're told' in favour of ‘bringing people on the journey’.

In this conversation Shelley delves into the pivotal connection between business and customer with a true visionary, Michael Clark.

Two decades ago, Michael found himself entrusted with a contact centre blueprint, a challenge he embraced with no prior experience in the field. What transpired since, has forged his remarkable expertise spanning contact centres, customer experience, project management, technological transformation, leadership and change.

Michael's profound grasp of the crossroads between leadership, customer satisfaction and employee engagement has proven invaluable. Tune in as they uncover the art of managing and influencing outcomes to meet customer needs through curiosity—a potent force that uncovers who the customer truly is, their desires, preferences and engagement patterns. 

They explore the intricate balance between efficient call handling and delivering quality results, all while fostering a workplace that cultivates the power of curiosity and question asking in a judgment free zone—a lesson that resonates far beyond the professional realm.

In this episode Shelley engages in a captivating conversation with Jacqueline Farrington, a true 'change maker' with two decades of experience igniting leadership potential through the art of storytelling.

Jacqueline's transformative journey, woven through the realms of performing arts, communication and psychology, has led her to craft unparalleled solutions for today's pressing challenges, including digital transformation, cultural evolution and social justice.

Armed with a master's in theatre and vocal pedagogy, alongside a foundation as a classically trained actress, Jacqueline's profound insights emerge from a decade in the heart of New York's theatre scene, marked by the life-altering impact of 9/11.

Join us as we explore how Jacqueline's profound understanding of stories not only shapes our perceptions of the world but also binds us through shared emotions and connections at the deepest level.

Grab a copy of Jacqueline's book, The Non-obvious Guide to Better Presentations: https://www.amazon.com/Non-Obvious-Presenting-Virtually-Without-Slides/dp/1646870468

There is a distinct difference to 'leading change' and 'leading through change'. 

In this conversation Shelley speaks with Leah about the responsibility all leaders have to effectively guide their people through change. This might be change you have initiated or that has come from elsewhere in the business - it might even be change you disagree with.

Change is going on everywhere, all of the time. Leah share’s that “if you want to achieve results while change is happening around you, you have to be there to support your people”. 

If you’re looking for the courage to lead your people through change, this episode is for you.

This is the final episode of the three part series exploring feedback. In this conversation Dwight and Shelley talk about GIVING feedback. How to do it well, what to avoid and making sure you’re really clear on what’s in it for the person receiving it.

They talk about the difference between offering advice/opinions, holding people accountable and giving feedback. Before giving any kind of feedback it’s essential to provide the context so the receiver understands the broader purpose. 

It’s even more important to ask permission…yet this is often the thing that’s missed. Giving unsolicited feedback (or advice) can damage relationships and diminish the psychological safety in a team. 

The three C’s of giving feedback are Current, Contextual and Clean.

This is the second episode of a three part series exploring how feedback can be used as a tool to continually grow and develop. In this conversation Shelley and Dwight explore the concept of seeking feedback.

The problem most people have with seeking feedback is that they’re not specific enough about what they want feedback on or why. 

Dwight and Shelley talk about what happens when we’re proactive in our approach to seeking feedback and are clear on what we want, in what context and from whom, then we can set the right conditions to receive it in a way that is relevant and purposeful.

This is the first episode of a three part series exploring how feedback can be used as a tool to continually grow and develop. In this conversation Shelley speaks with Dwight Hodge, co-author of her most recent book, Feedback, about how important connection is when engaging in development discussions.

Connection is all about relationships: how well you connect with the other person and your awareness of what they need and how they need it when it comes to feedback. Through a strong connection you can develop a deep level of trust and understanding of the other person.

What Shelley has learnt throughout her career is that if you don’t say ‘no’, the work won’t stop coming through. It’s up to everyone individually to manage expectations around workload and continue to have conversations about what’s realistic and what isn’t.

There seems to be a connection between not saying no and burnout or exhaustion and it’s hitting leaders hard this year. Saying ‘no’ can be done without damaging your brand, Shelley shares how you might approach these conversations. 

🎙️🎙️PODCAST - Episode #146. Interview with Adrian Baillargeon on teams that swear🎙️🎙️

In this conversation Shelley asks Adrian, ‘why’ he thinks swearing is such a big deal. They explore the rules and societal expectations around swearing and whether they’re still relevant in 2023. 

Adrian shares the positive benefits that can come with swearing, saying that it makes you stronger and can increase your pain threshold. Shelley add’s that it feels like a great stress release and should improve wellbeing if it’s used in the right way.

They talk about the appropriateness of swearing in the workplace and the need to be aware of the context and the environment. It’s a great conversation to help leaders create a culture for teams to swear by each other, not about each other. 

In this conversation Shelley speaks with Marnie, the Founder of Talent X, a recruitment company who are unique in their approach (e.g. they don't work on commission and are 100% invested in getting the right candidate for every role). Marnie shares how she get's to know her client's businesses intimately and doesn't mind sharing the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to advertising a role.

Talent X appeals to candidates who are looking to understand the reality of a role (not just the shiny stuff), are group-centric and career focused and are going into an organisation with 'eyes wide open'.

Marnie shares that getting the right person in the right role is influenced by how accurately the role is advertised saying "fresh, exciting and true ads are what will penetrate the market and get you the talent you’ve been searching for".

This conversation will make you reconsider taking shortcuts when recruiting and show you what's possible when you invest in getting it right the first time!

In this conversation Shelley speaks with globally recognised transformation expert, Vanessa Vershaw, about turning ambition into reality and how we can prepare our mind to have the best life.

Vanessa shares that “we need ambitions that go beyond self interest to advance humanity in a sustainable way”. She thinks big and connects deeply with those she works with, meeting leaders where they’re at and incrementally helping them to get to where they need to be.  

Shelley reads out Vanessa’s Unreasonable Ambition manifesto which sets the scene of what is possible so beautifully that it will give you goosebumps - at least, that’s what Shelley experienced! 

In this conversation Shelley invites director of leadership and change for Apricot Consulting, and dear friend, Lana Johnson, to share her views of change, strategy and the role leaders play in the appetite and ultimate adoption of change. They talk about the importance of building networks and having a strong supportive community around them.

Lana shares that effectively navigating change requires leaders to slow down and "mine for descent" to bring concerns to the surface so they can be discussed and resolved. She encourages debate and discussion among the team to allow everyone to feel heard, contribute and get clear on how their workloads might adjust to avoid burnout and exhaustion.

Financial literacy is a huge issue across the globe. In this conversation Shelley speaks with personal wealth and money management expert, Jacqui Clarke on the role financial well-being plays in our overall wellbeing. She shares that when we're worrying about money it can impact things like productivity and performance in our work.

Jacqui shares the importance of knowing your money story and even sharing it with others to help recognise unhealthy spending behaviours and find ways to make healthier and more conscious financial choices.

As leaders we have an opportunity to create a safe space for our people to talk about money, raise awareness and build confidence in finances.

Jade Green lives and breathes authenticity - with equal parts tomboy and girly girl. In this conversation with Shelley she shares the challenges that come from, riding a skateboard in a long flowing dress, along with adapting to different work environments. 

Jade sees opportunity for leaders to create the space for their people to show up “fully as themselves” so they can help unlock the potential that comes with that. 

She’s quite the inspiration in that she knows what’s needed to achieve the best outcomes - and still be true to herself through the process. She’s the ripple that creates the change in this conversation for sure!

As a leader you have a responsibility to hold a space for everyone in your team! In this conversation Shelley speaks with Brenda Harrington, founder of Adaptive Leadership Strategies, about the structural barriers that exist in many workplaces and how they prevent equity around opportunity.

Brenda shares her experience working with clients and how we can address equity at different leadership levels. The big question to consider is, "is our team a reflection of the clients we serve?". If it's not then do we truly appreciate their needs and preferences - are we in service to all or just those that fit the people we employ?

This is a great conversation to consider what can to be done around roles that still lack diversity and how organisations might benefit by opening themselves up to new perspectives.

Recognise the difference between diversity and true inclusion and make both a priority. Start to notice what’s missing…it’s time to fill the void.

In this conversation Shelley speaks with Anne about the success you can achieve when you’re courageous and believe in yourself.

She shares that with courage comes freedom, in mindset, in approach and in the opportunities that exist in the world. As leaders, courage can be used to influence where your life is going along with showing staff how to apply the same concepts to their own life.

Anne talks about how the stories we tell ourselves can either help or hinder our progress. She shares that purpose isn’t as important as zest and focus - which help to truly connect us with who we are.

So much insight in this one! 

🎙️🎙️PODCAST - Episode #138. Interview with Darren Fleming on mindset mastery🎙️🎙️ 

In this conversation Shelley speaks with Darren about mindset and why people get stuck. Darren challenges that habits and discipline aren’t the answer to mastering mindset - rather we should explore the root cause of why we do things that are bad for us.

He talks about the mind body feedback loop and how we react to sensations rather than sitting and allowing them to pass. It’s a really unique way of looking at mindset and the conversation will get you thinking differently about how you approach bad habits.

In this conversation Shelley speaks with Kerry about being proactive in dealing with the negative emotions we accumulate over time. She shares how being, quite literally, hit by a bus saved her life and helped her to recognise where her own mental health was being eroded. 

Kerry works with individuals to create self-management systems and identify ways to avoid getting stuck in unresourceful thinking patterns. When we can build greater awareness around the things within our control we become more empowered and healthier, both mentally and physically.

In this episode Shelley speaks about her experiences with boundaries and how important it is to set and constantly reassess expectations in parallel. So many leaders don’t have a clear understanding of what success looks like and therefore struggle to set and hold boundaries. 

Shelley shares how poor boundaries can lead to sacrifice and eventually cause resentment for people and organisations. She talks about the danger of assumptions and the importance of regular, open and transparent communication.

In this conversation Shelley and Melo talk about what can happen when workplace stress is left unmanaged. They talk about the three defining characteristics of burnout: an absolute feeling of exhaustion; a feeling of disconnect; and, a lack or efficacy (efficiency in what you do).

Melo shares how the path to recovery from burnout can take years so prevention is important. He says the first step to preventing burnout is to increase self-awareness - notice the feelings of tiredness, stress and overwhelm. The second step is to self-regulate - know what to do to deactivate stress.

The theme of this conversation is around creating practices of self care, give yourself permission to stop or slow down, take renewal breaks throughout the day and reset.

In this conversation Shelley speaks with business leaders, Wayne about how he approached his first leadership position and the advice he now gives leaders making the transition. Prior to moving into a leadership position, he took part in leadership development training, and found it helpful when determining the difference between leading and managing and also when navigating the trickier conversations. 

Wayne talks about adaptability and his focus on building key relationships across internal teams where he had a foundation of respect, openness, reliance and honesty. He truly believes in understanding the development needs of his people and what motivates them to come to work each day.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Tom Bosna, Managing Director for Pinnacle Health Group, about how he brings wellness to his workplace. Tom shares how he approaches change and the unexpected by “just making things happen” and how his business has evolved over the past few years.

He talks about approaching his role, as a leader and business owner, in a similar way to physical performance training - each six weeks he will take a break and shake up his routine. He will do something that is just for him and helps to refocus and build motivation for the next six weeks.

Find out why consistency is important and how you can make small adjustments to create a big difference in how you work.

In this conversation Shelley and Nikki explore what fun means to each of them and how important it is to find your own version. Fun is so important for mental health and it makes work so much more enjoyable for everyone when you have it.

They talk about being successful AND not needing to work ridiculously long hours…and the challenges that come with finding the right balance. What they both agree on is that if you can do what truly aligns with how you want to work and live you’ll be able to bring fun into small moments.

Happy International Women’s Day!

In this conversation Shelley speaks with her sisters about women, men, life journeys, and the need for equity to create a true balance. They talk about the importance of intentionally over-investing in women who have very different starting points and journeys.

Rather than approaching others with judgement or comparison they talk about the need for curiosity, kindness and compassion across all genders. Today is about building awareness and elevating everyone in a way that works for them and their unique situation.

Michelle joins Shelley again to talk about the skills of presenting. Whether you be a leader or an individual contributor, your ability to engage and influence your audience is important.

Michelle shares how developing the art of communicating your point in a clear and interesting way for your audience is foundational to presenting to anyone, anytime and a skill you continue to build on over time. She manages to make Shelley squirms as she practices talking into the camera instead of to the screen - it's harder than you think!

It’s a great conversation if you’re looking for ways to improve how you communicate.

Shelley and Kristy talk about the technology tipping point where we've started to question the digital dependencies created and are now considering whether they're helping or hindering us.

Kristy shares how many of us have become slaves to our screens, being highly distractable and sometimes completely consumed.

It’s time to take back the control of our time and attention and use technology in healthy and helpful ways. Kristy talks about digital guardrails, clearly articulating norms and principles around technology and creating space to disconnect.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Jess about workplace bullying, her personal experience and what it took for her to move forward. She shares what happens when nothing is done and what it takes to become an upstander and take action against harassing and intimidating behaviour.

Every employee has the right to feel safe at work and this conversation highlights what can happen when nothing is done. 

Creating capacity and the space to choose the best ways to work and live is what Shelley and Donna speak about in this conversation. They talk about the constant squeeze to make the most out of every minute of your day and the benefits of taking time to respond to a situation (rather than react) and use reflection as a way of learning.

Donna shares that the more simple you make things the greater likelihood of sustainable success. Which set the scene to talk about how written communication is currently being disrupted through ChatGPT. They talk about the disruption it’s already causing and the opportunities that now exist. It’s an exciting time to be a leader, but you have to build capacity and we willing to adapt.

In this episode Sharon and Shelley talk about power in a positive light and how it can be used to bring out the strengths of all and keep your team engaged and inspired.

Sharon shares how showing up from a place of clarity, agency and sovereignty make situations better and act as a force for good. We all have situations in our life where we feel powerless and at the mercy of others. Hear how we can shift the power dynamic in consideration of all factors and be in service to the greater good.

In this episode Shelley and Dominic speak about the fundamentals of people leadership. Dominic shares his views on trust and the impact is has to effective change. He quotes that “trust arrives on foot but leaves on horseback” in that it takes focus and attention to nurture and maintain.

They talk about the importance of reflection and how it should be built into your timetable as a key priority to make sure you’re understanding, connecting and aligning with all the things happening around you. And it’s just about starting new practices with five minutes a day and going from there.

A fabulous conversation to remind you of all the small things that make the biggest difference.

This is the first episode of season four and the first dynamic leader conversation for 2023!

In this conversation Shelley speaks with Tim Sacklin about his transition from hospitality to accounting in his 40's. He shares the challenges, both financial and mental, that came with the move, where he is now and how happy he is that he made the decision to do it. He's an inspiration for anyone feeling stuck or wondering what a change in their career might look like. 

It's a fabulous conversation for leaders to hear about motivation, alignment and a drive for continual growth and development. If everyone was doing work they love, imagine what the workplace would be like!

Connect with Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-sacklin-96887976/ 

In this episode Shelley and Carolyn celebrate the new kind of normal year we’ve had. We talk about how many leaders are feeling exhausted as we end the year and Carolyn shares strategies about how we can manage our energy levels differently in 2023.

This is a great conversation to get you thinking about how you want to show up, both personally and professionally in the year ahead.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Brad about what a good onboarding strategy looks like and what can happen in teams and organisations when it’s done well.

They talk about the consequences of a poor, or worse, no onboarding process, and the challenges that come with a function that doesn’t really have any measurable accountability. They also explore how organisational values are important for leaders to intimately understand and convey and how it connects to culture and a sense of belonging.

Brad, in his book, Onboarded, shares how he wants to equip leaders “with the tools and knowledge they need to make their new hires valuable, productive and effective team members - fast.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Jamie about how telling stories is an essential skill for leaders. He calls stories “the language of the mind” and shares how they allow people to make meaning and help shape beliefs.

With stories a leader can communicate with impact, influence other people and inspire them to follow.

Jamie also shares a that the first time you tell a story, it’s going to be rubbish, it’s supposed to be rubbish. The more you tell a story, the more you will refine it, and the better the story becomes.

In this episode Narelle Burke sits in the host seat and interviews Shelley on the state of leadership across the globe 18 months on from the normalising of the pandemic.

They talk about having a growth mindset and how we’re never really done learning. Shelley shares how to build grit and the benefits of being curious and aware of what might be coming in the future.

A very interesting conversation as always!