The Dynamic Leader Podcast

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!

In this episode Shelley learns about the importance of part-timers managing their own expectations around what can be achieved in the time they’ve got. Belinda’s insights for transitioning into a part-time role seem so simple and make so much sense yet too often we fail to consider them.

Belinda asks what the personal trade-off is when we’re saying yes to more work instead of prioritising the reasons we’ve chosen to work part time. She says role scoping, time optimisation and understanding your leadership styles are all important components of making part time work.

If you haven’t figured out how to make part-time work for you yet then take a listen to this episode for some practical advice.

In this episode Shelley and Mel share views on what leaders should be able to talk about with their people. While appreciating “everyone has their stuff”, Mel says that speaking about topics like menopause, for example, can open the conversation up other things that are going on.

It is through connecting via conversation that helps leaders to understand what might be having an impact on performance and a persons ability to show up and be their best selves. Learn to have all kinds of conversations, from sharing grief to navigating complex emotions and understanding the allure of sacrifice.

In this conversation Shelley and Gordon talk about renewing our childhood love of movement, whether that be exercise, play or something in between.

They talk about the association many people have to the word “exercise”, and even while knowing it’s good for us, will find reasons not to do it.

Gordon offers a really nice reframe to remaining active and being really intentional about movement - particularly for those in sedentary roles and who work from home. It’s a great conversation about a topic that’s important to every single one of us!

In this conversation Shelley and Michelle talk about persuasion, what it is, what is does and how it differs from influence and manipulation. Michelle shares how persuasion allows you to get more of what you want in life without any detriment to others - where it’s a win win scenario for everyone.

Learn the difference between passive, aggressive and assertive approaches and what this looks like for leaders in the workplace. Learn the skills to get what you want for you and for all, and help your staff to feel empowered, supported and productive.

Human beings are wired to enjoy growth! In this conversation Shelley and Rowena discuss that the most powerful growth often comes through challenge and how we deal with it.

Rowena shares her views on the growth zone that straddles safety and challenge and recognising which zone you go to when you are growing. She shares her perspective on the tension between past and future - navigating what’s right for us with respect of our past, what we know right now and our desire for what we want in the future.

Such an interesting conversation!

Grab a copy of Uncomfortable Growth: https://linktr.ee/rowena.millward 

One of Shelley’s favourite topics is explored with organisational psychologist and coach, Joe Hart. In this conversation Joe shares that perspective taking, the ability to reframe and take a different look at something, is one of the most powerful tools in anyone’s toolkit.

We should start the perspectives journey off by understanding ourselves, to the extent we can clearly articulate what we want and what’s important to us (easier said than done for most).

Once we understand ourselves we earn the right to consider the perspectives of others and help them to see themselves in the way that motivates and encourages growth and development.

In this conversation Shelley asks Richard, Founder and CEO of Body Talk, about starting his journey on the communication path in a Tibetan monastery teaching English to monks.

He appreciates the value of storytelling and incorporates them into the work he does with leaders and teams saying “it’s the facts that tell but it’s the stories that sell”.

Richard also shares the power of congruency in communication by saying what you mean and meaning what you say. He shares some really simple practices to put into place that will increase your impact through communication.

Learn more about the work Richard does: https://ukbodytalk.com/resources-category/videos/

In this conversation Shelley and Mel talk about the impacts of never ending screen time in the workplace with many leaders going from meeting to meeting without a break.

Mel shares insight into taking control of your calendar and managing expectations about working and resting effectively. She talks about the contrast of speeding up to get things done and slowing down to connect with people.

It’s a great conversation with a leader who is experienced in navigating workplace challenges and finding her own health and wellbeing rhythm.

In this conversation Shelley and Mark explore how high performing teams actively engage in constructive conflict and don’t mind having the ‘hard’ conversations. Mark shares the impacts of engaging in conflict for the wrong reasons as well as what happens when it is avoided.

Dynamic leaders approach conflict with a curious mindset and gain a rich understanding of where others are coming from. They are great at perspective taking and hold a good level of self-awareness.

In this conversation Shelley and Gerard talk about what it takes for a leader to really challenge the status quo and thrive.

An extraordinary leader doesn’t always standout, often they’re in the background operating with humility, observing what’s going on and being driven by a fierce resolve.

Gerard shares that extraordinary leaders have a “deep purpose-lead commitment to making things happened combined with a warmth, ability to connect with people and achieve results with and through people”.

Buy a copy of his book Xtraordinary: https://www.xtraordinaryleaders.com.au/product-page

In this episode Shelley and Margie talk about‘s what is required to access your best self. They talk about having awareness in the consistency of how you are showing up with your team each day and the impact this can have on others.

Margie also shares thoughts on the value of feedback in helping to highlight gaps in performance and opportunities to improve how you connect, engage and influence your people.

In this episode Shelley and Bernard explore what leaders’ intentions are in how they show up with others. Is the interaction about ‘them’ or is it about the ‘collective’? Are they being intentional about how they’re investing their time and attention or are they being seduced by busyness without giving too much thought to its importance?

Bernard says that leaders seem to have “lost the ability to discern what is important and what is not”. Now, everything is equally important and he says the implications and opportunity cost of being busy without being intentional is significant.

Learn how to be more effective and less busy!

In this episode Shelley and Catie talk about understanding how your values and beliefs drive behaviour and how your behaviour then increases or decreases resilience depending on whether you’re aligned.

Catie shares how healthy habit formation and taking tiny steps over time (that are useful and easy) becomes part of your normal way of living and builds your resilience reserves.

Now is the time to focus on building resilience - don’t wait until you’re feeling the pain - prepare for it before it happens!

Connect with Catie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catie-paterson-consulting/

In this episode Shelley speaks with author of Let’s Talk Culture, Shane Hatton, about recognising and understanding organisational culture and the role a leader plays in nurturing and moulding it.

Shane defines culture simply as the norms of a team/organisation but adds that it is also “deeply intricate with many layers to discover”. He encourages leaders to keep conversations open and work towards achieving a common goal even if there are different approaches to achieving it.

Leaders can benefit from understanding what others want and appreciating difference while maintaining alignment…or as Shane so nicely puts it…”aligned at the core and inclusive at the edge”.

In this episode Narelle Burke (Shelley’s sister) interviews Shelley on what’s happening in the leadership space, what her favourite conversations have been with leaders and what’s to come for future episodes of the Dynamic Leader. 

Shelley shares the challenges leaders are currently faced with and how they can build capability, manage their priorities and continue to grow without burning out.

A special thanks to all our guests and listeners over the past three years, it’s a pretty impressive milestone and Shelley looks forward to sharing more insights over the next 100 episodes.

In this episode Shelley speaks, for the third time, with David Nour around leading in a way that will attract and retain talent, focuses on productivity without burnout and continually develop your people.

David shares the need to shift our focus to the value we create through the work we do and consider the output, the outcomes and most importantly, the impact of what we’re doing day-to-day.

To deal with the impending skills gap he says “we must build the skills in our people that machines can’t do: the creative thinking, the connection, the relationships and insights from the analysis done by machines.”

He poses some great questions and shares really valuable insights on the success of leaders in today’s environment.

In this episode Shelley speaks with employment lawyer, Jo Alilovic, about having a vision around how you’re working as an organisation and providing your people with a clear message around why you’re doing things in a particular way.

They talk about the practical elements of working from home and how leaders can ensure they are providing adequate support and guidance about safe work practices and being aware of OH&S conditions.

It’s a super practical conversation and one you’ll take many tips away from.

Grab a copy of Homeforce: https://3dhrlegal.com.au/homeforce/

Connect with Jo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-alilovic/

In this episode Shelley speaks with researcher in organisational behaviour, Paige Williams about accountability and going past the word itself to connect with the deeper meaning of what it looks and sounds like day to day.

Paige shares the need to reset how we think about these conversations and move from being fear based and aligned with punishment towards a clear transparent place that looks for possibility in the partnership to call people to account.

With the help of an 'Own It' mindset leaders can learn to fully embrace these valuable conversations.

Grab a copy of Own It: https://drpaigewilliams.com/own-it/ 

Connect with Paige: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpaigewilliams/

In this episode Shelley speaks with senior leader turned conservation officer, Kevan Horder, on what he’s learnt through his career as a leader and what caused him to give it all up for a simpler life in the country.

Kevan attributes a lot of his professional wisdom to his ability to constantly explore new ways of working and learning from past experiences. He acknowledges the struggles in not taking things personally and taking the time to reflect on situations and consider what’s worth taking into the future.

It is such a humbling conversation with his view of the greatest leaders being those who will share what they know for the betterment of others, “it is working with people to be better than you”.

In this episode Shelley speaks with founder of the Blueberry Institute, Fleur Heazlewood on the topic of resilience and how leaders can enable their staff to understand what strategies will work for them.

Fleur shares that we experience resilience and wellbeing uniquely so to build it we need to shift from the generic term and consider it specific to our individual needs.

In this episode Shelley speaks about the making of leaders with GM of a national facilities services organisation, Kasun Samarawickrama. While some people seem to have a natural confidence around leadership, for most, it is built through experience and practice with the longer we do it the better we generally become.

Kasun shares that, with the changing business landscape, the leaders who will succeed will be those who let their team evolve, grow and adapt. It’s not up to leaders to tell or direct, but rather help them find a way that works best for them.

In this episode Shelley speaks with management consultant, Liz Kislik, about the dynamics of conflict in the workplace. Where it’s of benefit, where it’s damaging and where it come from for most people.

Liz shares how we’re wired for security and the need to be safe. We talk about those that like conflict, those that don’t and how to manage both heathy and ugly conflict.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Mark about his bicycle accident that left him with a sever spinal cord injury and a fractured identity as he worked through his recovery.

They talk about the impact of life changing events to identity, the guilt around dependence, the importance of hope, mindset, optimism and possibility for the future.

It’s a grounding conversation that instils gratitude and reminds us that even the toughest experiences can make us stronger.

In this episode Shelley speaks with director of MOJOLOGIC, Monica Lunin, about the power of words and how, when done right, can have a profound impact on individuals, businesses, communities and even the world. 

Monica talks about why good communication is important today and how it is the responsibility of leaders to show the way. She talks about connecting with the audience, making the message relevant to where they’re at and what they need and bringing it to life through stories.

It’s a fabulous conversation that every leader would benefit from learning more about.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Rosie Yeo, Director of Public Affairs Network, about the power of strategy and how organisations can use strategy to improve effectiveness and amplify performance.

Rosie shares that “we don’t know what the future will hold and strategy isn’t a guarantee, there is no certainty, but it is about planning the best possible path forward”.

They also talk about strategy from a creative viewpoint in that it “requires as much imagination as it does information”. When we can combine strategy with a shared ambition, we’ve got something really powerful.

In this episode Shelley speaks with leadership expert, Maree Burgess, on levelling up as a leader and using a variety of small nudges to make transformational change.

Maree talks about how she’s seen leadership evolve throughout her career and particularly over the past two years. She shares the importance of a growth mindset and leaders being curious and aware of what’s going on, not only with their team, but also with themselves.

This conversation is practical and gives some really basic suggestions around how to lead by doing less and being more!

In this episode Shelley speaks for a second time with CEO of the Nour Group, David Nour, about relationships and connection at a professional level.

David shares that “the fundamental need, as human beings, is for us to connect, connect in an authentic, genuine and meaningful way.”

Whether that be face to face or virtually, it’s important for us to form hybrid relationships and not wait for the workplace to return to the way it was.

In this episode Shelley speaks with, Exercise Physiologist, Nutritionist and Neuroscientist, Paul Taylor, about the effects of poor sleep both at a chronic level as well as an acute level.

Paul shares that it is good quality sleep that allows our brains to rest, get rid of toxins and help with the repair process throughout our body.

When we have poor sleep it increases our levels of cortisol, reduces our desire to be active, makes us crave crap food and reduces our cognitive performance - which is essential for leaders to operate effectively.

This is a conversation you need to listen to, then make changes around, particularly if you’re feeling tired, stressed, burnt out or fatigued. Just getting your body into a good sleep rhythm will have big flow on benefits into all areas of your life.

In this episode Shelley speaks with founder of the ‘Happiness Concierge’, Rachel Service, about increasing satisfaction and noticing what might be holding us back in our work and life.

She talks about burnout and the addiction to adrenaline that keeps so many leaders busy, overwhelmed and bored, often at the same time…and the longer term impacts this can have on us.

And…she encourages us to become clear about what our deal breakers are and use them to decide what to change, add or get rid of in our lives.

It’s a great conversations for leaders who are wanting to uncover more opportunities to achieve fulfilment, enjoyment and happiness for both themselves and their people.

In this episode Shelley speaks with director of People Mastery, Anna Marshall, about what leaders need to consider before and during their transition into people management. When you first move into people leadership there’s a lot of stuff that you’re going to need to stop doing - this is often the hardest concept to get your head around.

Anna shares the importance of recognising that leadership isn’t the only developmental growth pathway, so if leadership isn’t for you then don’t do it, don't get railroaded into it. Take another avenue (e.g. towards technical expertise), find a pathway that suits you.

She also shares the five duties of leadership being...

🎙️Take a listen:

In this episode Shelley speaks with founder and ‘risk rebel’ of Unearth, Lisa Sisson, about how people associate with risk and the need to shift the ‘tick-the-box’ approach so many business leaders take.

Lisa shares her focus on reducing risk through people and teaches us that risk shouldn’t be something we fear but rather an opportunity to “proactively reduce the impact of disaster if and when it should occur”.

Lisa encourages leaders to create a desire for people to want to protect the organisation by engaging them in the risk process and keeping them involved ongoing.

An engaging conversation about risk that will make you think differently about how you approach it!

Grab a copy of her book, Risk starts and ends with people:

In this episode Shelley speaks with, Award-winning Speaker and Culture Change Facilitator, Colin Ellis about the adhoc nature of the hybrid work environment and how we can make better decisions around getting things done. They talk about the importance of understanding the fundamentals of business including the need for clear objectives and a clear understanding of what success looks like for each person in their role. 

Colin says leaders need to “trust and empower people to do what they need to do to get the job done”. 

This conversation highlights that it’s the little things that make the biggest difference in a hybrid environment.

🎙️Take a listen:

In this episode Shelley speaks with founder and CEO of The Mojo Maker, Nikki Fogden-Moore about taking responsibility for how we respond to situations and what happens next.

Nikki says that “we want all the trimmings in life but we need to be prepared to eat our vegetables is we want dessert”.

Her metaphors are brilliant with references to “thought tinder” and the “crap carousel” - you’re bound to take away some great strategies from this conversation!

In this episode Shelley speaks with David Nour, founder of Nour Group, about the importance of relationships in the workplace.

David says that we “under-value, under-appreciate and under-invest in relationships because we still see them as being a soft skill” when businesses are fundamentally built around relationships - not the other way around.

The more authentic, real and genuine our relationships are the better the outcomes will be across our business.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Dr Lynda Folan on leader resilience. On the back of her Phd research, Lynda realised that the high need to constantly respond to the changing conditions of the workplace is wearing leaders down. “They're battling, they’re not keeping up, they’re struggling to cope in times of change.” 

With no sign of things slowing down anytime soon leaders need to develop practices to avoid the feeling of overload and burnout. So, for our last podcast of the year, this is the time for every leader to consider how they're going to approach 2022 with strength, courage, conviction and confidence!

Learn how transformational leadership is calling for resilient leaders…and what strategies you can put in place to be on the right side of change in the future.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Senior Manager of Volunteer Engagement, Tracey O’Neill, on the importance, benefits and sustainability of leading with influence.

Like paid employment, volunteers no longer remain with the one organisation for a lifetime, so working to retain them is a big focus. Her approach is to connect with volunteers on a personal level, to create a sense of community and also connect them with the passion and direction of the organisation.

She talks about the value that comes from volunteering and the transferrable skills that are gained, particularly for those in leadership. The biggest takeout from this conversation, for leaders, is knowing when you’re helping and when you might be hindering the ability for your people to contribute in a meaningful way - and removing as many barriers as you can.

In this episode Shelley speaks with "It's not always right to be right" author, Hamish Thomson, about leadership and driving change. 

They talk about leaders when they first start out believing that, "to be successful they need to be right". While most leaders self-correct over time, the worst leaders are one's that don't. They end up being the most opinionated where people don’t like to challenge them, so they rarely get the feedback they need to drive sustainable change.

Hamish shares that crucial conversations are most effective when the other person knows you care. It is through true care, empathy and genuinely wanting to support them that you see the best outcomes.

In his book he offers messages, practical steps, and strategic frameworks that help to drive this change at an individual, team and organisational level.

Buy a copy of It's not always right to be right: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/It%27s+Not+Always+Right+to+Be+Right%3A+And+Other+Hard+Won+Leadership+Lessons-p-9780730389071 

Connect with Hamish: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamishrthomson/ 

In this episode Shelley and Patti speak rather casually about the serious topic of improvisation - a skill that every leader would benefit from learning.

When Patti first entered the improvisation scene back in the 80’s at the world renowned Loose Moose Theatre she experienced an environment where “all ideas were valued, there was authentic conversation, integrity in the work, and a clear focus. It was also relaxed and fun and enjoyable and human.”

Improvisation is all about being effective despite the reactivity and chaos by appreciating the limitless amount of ways we respond to information presented to us.

This is a fabulously thought-provoking conversation that will get you considering how to adjust your approach to shift the outcome.

In this episode Shelley and Amalia talk about low global unemployment rates, the big resignation, dealing with employee burnout and supporting staff to transition throughout their career. She shares the importance of continuing to build capability and equip staff with the resources they need to continue to thrive in their roles.

Amalia shares how she was part of an impressive team that saw almost 90% of 3000 GM Holden workers in gainful employment after their closing and what was needed to get employees into the right head space to make a successful transition.

Working holistically involves using your strengths and capabilities to do more of the things you enjoy so the things that drain your energy don’t become all consuming. It’s a really practical conversation that gets you thinking about how you approach your role and life in general.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Bold HR’s talent and leadership coach and facilitator, Rebecca Houghton, on the value of middle level leaders in an organisation.

She shares that a middle levels success depends on “their ability to transform strategy into performance”. These leaders are critical for engaging staff and driving transformation but are often neglected which leads to them becoming invisible and therefore dispensable.

For any mid-level leader your focus should always be on remaining visible and demonstrating that you’re continually adding value.

In this episode Shelley speaks with banking professional, Mali Amarasekera, who has been in both leadership roles as well as individual contributor roles through his career. He is this super optimistic, always open to trying new things and doesn’t appear to take things too seriously.

This conversation is about how perceptions of such individuals can lead to outcomes that are sub-optimal to their growth and success in their career. Mali shares his own story and how he was able to work through his developmental challenges with and around his leaders.

Connect with Mali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malithamarasekera/

In this conversation Shelley speaks with the Director of Cut Through Coaching & Consulting, Dan Haesler, about the leadership synergies that exist across industries.

He talks about broadening perspectives, outside of the environment we’ve been conditioned to work in, for the purpose of challenging biases and learning to do things differently.

They talk about the transition to leadership and the skills that need to be developed to effectively shift how they approach their role.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Alistair Gordon, CEO at Expertunity and HFL Leadership, about leading and developing technical specialists. It is through building enterprise skills (which includes interpersonal and business related knowledge and skills) that experts can increase their ability to influence outcomes across different contexts.

He talks about emotional intelligence and shares that partnership and relationships are a critical piece of being a master expert. Helping them to understand the ‘why’ behind developing these skills is critical for their development and for the overall success of a team.

For any leaders who are stuck with how to develop their specialists, this podcast gives some great insights.

In this episode Shelley speaks with organisational psychologist and founder of Inventium, Amantha Imber. For over three years, she successfully empowered employees to take unlimited annual leave. She believes that “given we spend around 30% of our time at work, leaders have a responsibility to help to make the environment enjoyable”.

She is an open, collaborative leader who is open to exploring new ways of working. Inventium is now part of the four-day work week movement where staff are paid 100% of their full time wage for 80% of their time if they meet 100% of their productivity targets. And the results are impressive!

If you’re considering the four-day work week, this conversation offers some fabulous insights.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Lynne Cazaly about her recently published book, Argh, and discovers some practical tips for getting out of overwhelm. It includes simple and effective strategies like pausing for 60-90 seconds between tasks or meetings to give yourself a little time to breathe and space to empty your cognitive load and prepare for the next thing.

She says “overwhelm isn’t just one thing, once. It’s a complex mix of loads and emotions that while vital for human functioning, can get out of control or start running our life. Understanding what overwhelm is and what it’s made of will give us the power to redefine it, to not fall victim to its powerful vortex, and to instead be the master of our work thoughts and emotions”

To transition out of overwhelm we must pause to consider what is the main things that are contributing to it, and then, what are some alternative ways to respond and work through it so we can continue to make ‘free progress’.

In this episode Shelley shares some of the many benefits of adopting a curious mindset. Her top five include:

For leaders, curiosity must come from a genuine place of interest. If you want your people to feel like you care, then actually care.

Grab a copy of The Dynamic Leader: https://shelleyflett.com/product/the-dynamic-leader/ 

In this conversation Shelley speaks with New Zealand’s straight-talking strategist, Alicia Mckay, about being strategic and about the power of asking questions.

Today, more than ever, it is harder and more important to create the space to be more strategic as a leader. She says “finding time to do this doesn’t happen by accident”, we must schedule, prioritise and be intentional about how we use our time and find the right space to enable ourselves to get a different perspective.

Alicia shares her views on the power of questions saying “asking questions is the single most useful leadership behaviour”. If you only decided to work on one thing as a leader it would be to create a default to questions…“just ask another question…” It is through questions that we are better able to maintain perspective, seek to understand and teach people to solve their own problems. It is through questions that we can teach the rule rather than solve the problem and truly build capability within our team.

I’m this interview Shelley talks to Rob Pyne, CEO and Founder of Realizer, about the potential that exists for leadership teams to work collectively and leverage their unique skills and experience to become greater than the sum of their parts.

It’s an insightful conversation that highlights the need to do different and use what already exists to achieve more across an organisation.

If you lead leaders then take time to listen to this episode!

In this episode Shelley shares her insights and theories around what makes a great culture and how, even though leaders can't ever full control it, can influence a shift with the right focus and perseverance.

In this episode Shelley interviews Pamela Jabbour, founder and CEO of Total Image Group, about fashion in the workplace and how uniforms give individuals confidence as well as unite teams to a common purpose.

The passion in her work is about helping companies to tell a story through what they wear and help people to connect with their role, each other and their customers. It is the first impression that counts and it often comes down to what you wear.

It’s a great conversation about something we don’t talk about much but really should!

In this episode Shelley speaks with CEO of Pragmatic Thinking, Alison Hill, about Working From Anywhere and how leaders best navigate the new skillset and landscape of remote, dispersed and hybrid teams.

Ali shares the importance of having a framework that teams can align to and work with in their 'work from anywhere' environment. They use:

1. Performance: understanding that getting the work done is critical. 

2. Culture: finding ways to connect. Aligning with the things we care about in our environment; and, 

3. Autonomy: giving the freedom for people to do the work in a way that brings out their best.

They talk about beliefs, fear and taking action to gain clarity around the best solution for the work and dynamics of your team. If you are leading a 'work from anywhere' team then this is one conversation you shouldn't miss!!

In this episode Shelley shares with you her insights on approachability and specifically how approachable leaders achieve stronger and more sustainable outcomes.

Additionally, leaders who are approachable will have greater connection, engagement and trust with their team. These are the leaders that others will be inspired to follow.

Connect with Shelley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/

Colleen Callander is the founder of Mentor Me and the author of Leader by Design. She is the former CEO of well known clothing brand Sportsgirl and prior to that, Sussan.

Colleen’s purpose in life is to inspire and empower people to lead in business and in life and to bring their best selves to wherever they are (work, community, home) every single day.

In this episode she shares strategies from her book that are aimed to help manage work alongside all of the other things that come with life, like family, health, fitness, well-being and self-care. She now works with leaders to help them avoid reaching burnout and to become the best leader that they know how to be while still taking care of themselves.

Among all the other gems in this conversation Colleen shares that a great culture has to start with the leader and her book can teach you how!

In this episode Shelley Flett speaks about perspective and how liberating and beneficial taking on a broader view of the world can be.

Her key message is not necessarily to give up your own perspective or how you see the world, but more to loosen the grip that you have on it. Notice when it’s not helpful - when it begins to cloud your judgement or create bias or shut people down. Or when it doesn't allow expansion and innovation and the creativity we all need to thrive.

For leaders, perspective is so important…being able to hold multiple different ways of experiencing the world, without necessarily having an opinion and certainly not having judgement towards another person.

In this episode Shelley talks to Ingrid Messner, author of Naturally Successful - ‘How wise leaders manage their energy, influence others and create positive impact’, about sustainable leadership.

Shelley refers to the wall that leaders sometimes feel they're banging their heads against and Ingrid offers an alternative with learning to dance with the wall and look for ways to go over, around or under it. She offers some really simple but powerful ways to stay connected, remain aware and achieve a sustainable way of leading into the future.

In this podcast Shelley speaks with Robert Kenn, Head of Tax at Thales, about the importance of networks and continually nurturing them.

In the beginning Rob considered himself an anti-networker and viewed it as being a thing you did when you wanted or needed something. Today he considers himself an accidental-networker where he meets people, becomes curious about what they do and simply stays connected with them - not for any other reason than finding interest in them and what they do.

Over the years Rob's network have offered him so much support and guidance as well as vastly different perspectives, he sees so much value in it.

In this episode Shelley Flett talks about career resilience as being not only important to individuals in organisations but to leaders who are wanting to give their people support and offer an alternative view which enables them to take control of their own development and performance and rethink job security and what it means in uncertain times.

She shares that job security is still a high need for many people in the workplace today and by addressing, rather than ignoring it, leaders can decrease the feelings of anxiety, stress and overwhelm that often come with it. 

Shelley believes when you can self-initiate and be adaptable in your approach, aware of what’s going on around you and have a positive attitude focused on what’s possible, then you become more transferrable, reputable and promotable. And this is what organisations will want to hold onto!

Download the white paper > https://shelleyflett.com/career-resilience-whitepaper/ 

In this episode Shelley speaks with Founder and CEO of Merry People, Danielle Holloway about the importance of mindset and how she remains open, collaborative, humble and positive while staying focused on the outcome.

Dani is the leader that enjoys getting the most out of her people. She says that while things are challenging at times it means she’s growing as a leader. She doesn’t always have the answers but sees the importance of working with her team to find them.

She believes that “your mindset determines your outcomes” and has solid routines that keep her balanced like daily exercise, eating well and getting a good nights sleep.

This is a great conversation about showing up and giving the best version of yourself every day leading this through a positive mindset.

In this episode Shelley speaks with CEO of Auscontact Association, Fiona Keough, about the challenges leaders face with unplanned absences in their team.

She shares the biggest contributor to absenteeism is LIFE. ”Life is messy, It’s complicated and it's unpredictable, and work, tends to be planned, structured and, dare I say it, inflexible. So when those two go together they are diametrically opposed”.

Fiona says that asking staff if they’re ok and listening to them without judgement can go a long way to understanding what’s going on in their world and also provide a psychologically safe environment for them to work and live.

While a leader has a role to play in unplanned absences they are not totally responsible. Knowing what you can do to make a difference is what this conversation is all about.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Julie Borninkhof, CEO of PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia), about the importance of boundaries in workplace.

Julie describes boundaries as "spaces in which there are risks with overstepping them". She talks about her experiences with pushing up against them herself and how they play out in the workplace. 

More broadly, Julie share her views on leadership and uses a fabulous textiles metaphor to describe the complexities of navigating all dimensions of our life. She says "the warp and the weft are the fabric that holds us together" and we need to be conscious of when we need to warp and when we need to weft and be willing to go where the need is.

We talk about the challenges of working from home, the stereotypes for both men and women when raising a family and how boundaries help them to find the balance and the space to live comfortably.

Connect with Julie > https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-borninkhof-940a309b/ 

In this episode Shelley talks to Darren Smith, owner of DJ Smith Group Chartered Accountants, about his business values and the importance of incorporating them into everyday conversations. 

Darren talks about creating business values around eight years ago with input from his team who then committed to living and breathing them through the work they do. His values are: commitment, accountability, respect and excellence. 

He says that "using values to support tough conversations with staff, about their behaviour, makes the conversation a whole lot easier to deal with". When you can refer back to something that everyone has committed to it allows individuals to identify when and where they may not have aligned with a certain value and then take action to shift their behaviour.

Values based conversations aren't just about your staff embodying and living the values, it's also making sure that you are doing the same. "We don't get it right 100% of the time but we do try to minimise the times that we get it wrong".

Connect with Darren > https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-smith-98a4841/ 

In this episode Renée shares the 12 Gifts from her newly released book “Gift Mindset” that can equip leaders with tools and strategies to look after themselves and then look after their people.

She shares the importance of resilience, optimism, courage, curiosity and the gift of giving as a leader.

There are endless pearls of wisdom in this episode and one that will leave you thinking differently about how you care for yourself and others!

Buy Renée’s book > https://reneegiarrusso.com/books/#gift

As leaders, people should be at the centre of everything we do. But thanks to an outdated management system, where humans were seen as units of labour (and the objective was to get as much as you can out of them), many leaders still struggle being human. 

In this conversation Shelley speaks with Mark LeBusque, fellow leadership consultant and multiple author of Being Human and The Little Book of Human. Mark shares how important it is to be authentic. "It takes a lot of energy to work with someone who’s inconsistent in their attitudes and behaviours - energy that could be much better spent". 

They talk about awareness, judgement, curiosity and intention - are you coming from a good place. It's a fabulously human conversation with couriers arriving and dogs barking and a conversation that endures regardless - it's very typical of the world we're now working in.

In this episode Shelley talks about the importance of working on building resilience as part of a daily practice. It’s no good waiting until things go pear shaped to focus on resilience - by then it’s too late. She shares the six key components of building resilience along with some helpful tips that can be put into practice.

Find out more about the resilience program or register for the next public program here https://shelleyflett.com/personal-resilience-series/

In this episode Shelley shares her thoughts on managing time including: 

Reducing distractions: Turn off your notifications, pop-ups and even that tiny little envelope that sits in the bottom corner of your screen. Aim to only check and respond to emails once every 1-2 hours if possible. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplished when you're not constantly interrupted.

Being intentional: Make sure you're really clear on 'why' you're doing something. This includes attending meetings, running reports, catching up with a colleague for a coffee and even going for a walk at lunchtime. Keeping your intention front of mind will minimise distractions and ensure you get full value from the activity.

Managing your energy: If you're tired, stressed, burnt out or overwhelmed you're going to be less effective with your time. Learn what activities give you energy and make time to do them regularly. Note there's a difference between activities you enjoy (e.g. drinking a glass or red wine while cooking dinner which will impact your mental clarity the following day) versus activities that are good for you (e.g. drinking a herbal tea while watching the sunset).

There are endless ways to manage your time and not all things work for all people. So if you are looking for more ideas please get in touch for a conversation that is specific to you.

Here's the link to the leadership quiz I mention in the podcast too https://leaderhealthcheckshelleyflett.scoreapp.com

Simon Heenan is a charismatic video and photography freelancer who also happens to work a 9-5 job in health insurance. In this interview he shares with us what is important about leadership from an employees perspective. Simon represents an ever increasing population of people who have a split career with one bringing in the income and the other to fulfil a creative desire around experimentation and play.

He shares how he learns and what he expects from a leader, which is little more than for them to care, to listen and to support his growth and development. 

In this conversation Shelley speaks with Grant Lester, Director of Operations with The Social Research Centre, about using coaching techniques to effectively lead your team and "giving them choice through empowerment". 

Grant sees the leaders of today as needing to be flexible, agile, adaptable and resilient so they can take on whatever challenges come their way. There is also a great expectation that leaders will be emotionally intelligent, have good awareness and sensitive to the needs of others. 

The workplace today requires reciprocity between leaders and staff and coaching is a fabulous mode to achieve this. He says "being able to coach your staff is a fundamental ability for any leader in today’s workplace".

Connect with Grant > https://www.linkedin.com/in/glester9/

Succession planning is something leaders should start to consider from the moment they enter a role - this is the topic of this conversation with my sisters, Narelle Burke and Kristy Flett.

Succession planning is about reducing single person dependency tasks along with providing development and growth opportunities. Kristy share’s, in her workplace, how is helps to “boost morale, increases engagement and reduce the pressure and stress that can come with being the only person who knows how to perform a function or a role”.

Narelle’s approach to succession planning is that it’s a “long term process in a short term world. You don’t think about succession planning when you need it, you start to build it up over a period of time.

It gives your staff an opportunity to step up and learn and grow so that you can also step up and learn and grow.

Daniel Park is an Agile Squad Lead in Human Capital Analytics. He is curious, vibrant and full of energy and his genuine care for others makes him the ideal leader to follow.

In this conversation he shares what he believes will be important for leaders in 2021. He talks about advocating for young career professionals, building confidence and empowering his people through a ‘freedom within a framework’ approach.

It’s a great conversation with a whole lot of reflection and even a smidgeon of vulnerability!

This is a super exciting conversation because it involves my two wonderful sisters, Narelle Burke and Kristy (aka Punky) Flett. 

Growing up in the same household and being exposed to the same things hasn't meant we think the same on everything...but our values do align and we are all open to taking on different ways of being and doing.

We all agree that trust and communication is really important, as is connecting with people at all levels to understand what's happening across the business.

I think you'll enjoy this conversation on perspective and leadership!  

Danyal Diallo is a Social Entrepreneur & Professional speaker who, at the age of 16, delivered a keynote at TEDxCasey on breaking stereotypes.  He believes in never giving up and is a wonderful role model for young people looking to find their unique voice and become effective communicators.

Danyal shares what's working and what's not in the leadership space and what is needed to motivate and drive leaders of the future. He coaches Shelley's 9 & 12 year old sons on making their aspirations a reality and encouraging them to make more informed choices.

Connect with Danyal > https://www.linkedin.com/in/danyal-diallo-493421166/

This conversation with Narelle Burke talks argues that delaying taking action isn't always procrastination saying the sometimes we need to take the extra time for creative and deep thinking. 

Narelle has appropriately coined this term ‘Percolation’ and demonstrates the value of embracing it rather than trying to push yourself to deliver something less than amazing.

She says “One of the luxuries that we do not give enough value to is the ability to step back, bring different pieces of information together, look at whether there’s synergies or whether you want to decompress, pull stuff apart and bring different pieces together...I think that’s one of the strengths that I bring to roles is this ability to pull quite separate distinct information together to form different patterns and different ways of moving forward.”

It's a fabulous conversation, particularly for those trying to figure out how they access their peak performance state.

 Connect with Narelle > https://www.linkedin.com/in/narelleburke/

With the almost three decades of experience in emergency services (CFA) and high-pressure leadership environments, Nathan Ractliffe share's the importance of open, effective and adaptive communication.

He talks about trust, clarity and feedback as being key to the success of a team and gives some great examples of where he's learnt valuable lessons. 

As a leader, Nathan says that his role as being one that "facilitates so my team are able to achieve".

Connect with Nathan > https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-ractliffe-4392409b/ 

Leadership really is the topic that never ends...yes it goes on and on my friends. Over the past 35 episodes Shelley has shared chapters from the book and conducted 25 interviews with leaders who shared their insights, experiences, successes and failures in their own leadership journey. Every single conversation teaches you something and each conversation confirms there’s no easy road to becoming a great leader.

In this Podcast Shelley says thanks to every leader who's been part of the journey.  Narelle Burke, Cath Smith, Fiona Preston, Paul Veldman, Ange Hann, Kim Ruyten, Barry Edgar, Lana Bonnet, Allison Nurthen, Richard Farrelly, Robyn Canning, Viren Thakrar, Matthew Hocking,  Islam Hassan,  Adam Watson, Suzanne Wood, Catie Paterson, Spiz Constandinou, Dan Smith, Justine Teggelove and Lesley Williams

In this episode Shelley speaks with the publisher of The Dynamic Leader, Lesley Williams, who owns Major Street Publishing. Lesley shares her experience of working for her dad early in her career and the lessons he taught her around trust and empowerment.

She shares one of the keys to successful leadership is being “nice to people” and supporting them through the good and the bad. She recites the words of her dad that “no one ever responds to being told off” and how she’s applied this philosophy with her own team. It’s important to recognise that we all make mistakes and that we can use them as opportunities to learn and grow.

Lesley founded Major Street Publishing in 2009 and works with authors to publish books on leadership, business, the share market, property markets, superannuation or personal financial planning. She says that she learns something new from every book and believes that the key to getting a book written is about finding what works for you and remain focused on the outcome (not necessarily the process).

For those of you looking for other inspiring reads by Major Street Publishing, Lesley recommends:

In this episode Shelley speaks with Justine Teggelove, co-found of Rodine and Build-in-common, about her journey through leadership and about the importance of ‘paying-it-forward’. Justine learnt really early that leadership is about working together as a team - “it’s not about me it’s about everyone else...it’s about the team”.

Justine is one of the most authentic leaders I know, she says if you know yourself well and you be yourself in all areas of your life then people will see your authenticity - you just have to be yourself.

On the topic of ‘paying it forward’ Justine believes that no one has got to where they are in their life on their own. Her philosophy, when it comes to imparting knowledge, is to “share the shit out of it” - don’t take it to the grave - what you know is likely to be helpful to someone else.

This is a genuinely light-hearted and fun conversation with buckets of wisdom and insights from an amazing leader!

There aren’t many leaders as humble and open to learning is Dan Smith, Contract Manager for SuperGardens. In this interview Shelley talks to him about his approach to leadership and the importance of open dialogue and transparency.

Throughout the entire conversation you’ll hear Dan’s passion for developing his people and getting the best out of his team. He is a role model for having real conversations and demonstrates that empowering others is what makes a business successful.

What a fabulous conversation!

In this episode Shelley speaks with Spiz Constandinou, Head of Business at Australia Post, about leadership and, in particular, accountability.

From the beginning of his own leadership journey, he has centred his approach around engagement saying “without engagement you have nothing”. He believes that trust, openness and transparency underpin engagement along with having a growth mindset and being your authentic self.

When he talks about accountability he says the conversations should be democratic and come with questions, vulnerability and operating from a position of humility. Leaders should understand their people, ask the right questions in the right frequency and at the right time and have a two-way discussion that “gets to the core”.

Spiz is one of the most in-tune leaders you will ever meet. He lives and breathes these practices and says “you don’t want people to perform in spite of you…you want people to perform because they’re inspired by you and because they respect you.”

He certainly is a leader who inspires others to follow!

In this episode Shelley speaks with Catie Paterson, HR Business Consultant, on the topic of empowerment and accountability. Catie shares the importance of adapting your communication style to suit the audience. She says “know how much support your people need and be willing to empower and adjust your approach to get the best out of them!”

She is a big believer in establishing and nurturing trust and says it is essential when it comes to empowerment. She shared one of the best lines I’ve heard all year which is…

“You’ve got to make people feel bigger for longer!”

As a leader, if you can hold the belief that your people have the ability to succeed, and give them the opportunity to own it they will flourish as a result. This includes growing through successes but also through failure and learning as a result of mistakes that are made.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Suzanne Wood, State General Manager of Mortgage Broker Distribution at Westpac, about what empowerment looks like for a leader. She shares the importance of taking the time to coach, guide and develop your people along with building the confidence they have in themselves to succeed.

Suzanne talks about the connection between empowerment and trust with openness and transparency being key to making it work. Then the connection between empowerment and accountability through open dialogue and getting your staff to come up with the solution, invest in the idea and commit to the outcome.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Adam Watson, senior leader in operations and emergency management, about his views on influencing others to deliver results, particularly in the COVID environment.

Adam shares how influencing results is largely dependent on engagement and bringing your team along on the journey through effective communication. He talks about the importance of context and developing a compelling narrative along with sharing the ‘how’, the ‘why’ and getting input from the team so they can own their part.

Finally, Adam shares the need to lead by example and look after yourself, because in doing so you give permission for your team to do the same. Find what works for you and carve out the time to make it a habit.

Another fabulous conversation about Dynamic Leadership!

In this episode you will hear Shelley read Chapter 10 of the book on Influence Results. She shares ideas on how to empower your staff, how you hold them accountable and ensure you’re being transparent in everything you do.

When your staff know you and respect you they will assume greater responsibility for their individual performance along with the performance of the team. They will do what it takes to ensure ongoing and sustainable success. And influencing results will enable this to happen.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Narelle Burke, Global Head of Talent and Leadership Development at Kantar about engagement.

Narelle’s view on engagement is that it doesn’t need to be perfect but it does need to frequent. Even when we don’t have all the information it’s important for leaders to share what they know.

“In the absence of information people are smart, they will form their own views on what’s happening that may or may not be right.”

She also poses a fabulous question when speaking with staff individually and that is “how do I help you be at your best, even in times of change?”.

In this interview Shelley speaks with Islam Hassan, Head of Growth at Westpac, about his views on being an adaptable leader. He shares that leadership is a constant learning journey and now, more than ever, we must invest in our continual growth and development to ensure future success.

You’ll hear how he has adapted his skills and his approach throughout his career moving from hospitality to telecommunications and banking. He is a learning machine and says “I’ve learnt more from the people who’ve worked with me that what I’ve taught”.

Islam shares that development is not linear and how sometimes taking a side step or a backstop can be more beneficial the just moving forward. He adds that often what gives you the most growth are the things you haven’t yet mastered and being uncomfortable is ok.

Leadership is a learning journey and this interview with Matthew Hocking, experienced solicitor and senior leader, shares what he’s learnt from his mistakes along the way. His key to success has been to remain curious and take on different perspectives, “you never stop learning about the benefits of different approaches and learning from other people.”

When you value different points of view you can create some great change in a business. Matt also talks about the need to unlearn certain things through your life and take on different views based on new information and expanded thinking.

In this episode Shelley talks to Mei Ouw, her all-time favourite guru and teacher in adaptive leadership and an absolute genius in her field. Mei shares some fabulous insights on perspective and how when we change our internal dialogue we can impact our external environment.

She shares the four powers we have control over, being…

Mei also talks about the rigidity that comes with judgement and the flexibility that comes with being curious and encourages all leaders to take the time to be more curious! It’s a fabulous conversation and one you can listen to over and over and still find little nuggets of gold.

In this episode you will hear Shelley read Chapter 9 of the book on Inspiring Respect.

As a leader, you want your staff to respect not only you but also their colleagues, business partners, stakeholders, and the wider network that they operate within. This, for some teams, might also include respecting your customers.

So what does it mean to respect someone else?

In this chapter, Shelley covers why respect is a fundamental part of building a dynamic team, and outlines how to inspire your people to respect you and see that they have a role just as important as you to be true to themselves and those around them.

In this episode Shelley talks to Viren Thakrar, Owner of ‘In The Game’, about the importance of trust. He draws the parallels of coaching a junior sports team and learning to work with the players you’ve been given and how this also applies to organisations. 

He holds a belief that “majority of people want to do well” and so it’s important to approach them with a positive intention to develop and know that you, as their leader, is responsible for how they perform. Viren talks about vulnerability and the benefits that come with admitting you don’t know all the answers and utilise the network and support around you to get the best outcomes.

He also talks about the trust equation of: Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy / (divided by) Self-interest = Trust. Viren isn’t just an expert in game-play but in all things leadership and team performance and that’s what you’ll hear come to life in this interview.

Connect with Viren > LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/virenthakrar/ 

In this episode Shelley talks to Robyn Canning, Team Manager at TAC, again about vulenerability and the power of feedback. One of the questions she asks her team is “what is it that you need from me in order for you to win the gold medal at the Olympics?”. It means that the feedback isn’t about the leader as a person but as the support they need to achieve greatness. She talks about building feedback into all monthly conversations and seeking feedback as well as delivering it and giving people the space they need to share and reflect.

In this episode Shelley talks to Richard Farrelly about maintaining integrity as a leader and being aware that every contact leaves a trace. Richard also shares an absolutely fabulous insight around leading for the purpose of building capability, not dependency! In the latter part of the conversation they talk about saying ‘sorry’ and the benefits and impacts that come with different contexts.

In this episode Shelley talks to Operations Transformation Lead, Alison Nurthen, about her journey through leadership and the importance of finding your true style and of being authentic. She also shares the need to create a support network with your peers and not put too much pressure on yourself to solve things alone. 

Al reflects on the benefits she’s experienced in letting go and allowing her team to create and operate at their best.

In this episode you will hear Shelley read Chapter 8 of the book on Invest in Relationships. Nurturing any kind of relationship takes patience and perseverance. It’s not always smooth and doesn’t always feel good but if we can be friends with our staff, these conversations always seem to come from a better place. 

As leaders we need friends who support us through our high highs and low lows. They are people who can call you on your bullshit when you start to wallow in self-pity and tell you when you’ve done the wrong thing. 

This chapter we cover how leaders can really get the most of these friendships, investing in relationships through authenticity, integrity and vulnerability – to ultimately build trust.

In this episode you will hear Shelley read Chapter 7 of the book on The three levels of integration. The levels start with saying what you mean, then move to doing what you say, and finally focus on being who you uniquely are.

Say, Do and Be are relevant and necessary for all leaders to build dynamic team cultures.

In this episode Shelley talks to Barry Edgar, Head of Governance, Business Enablement and Growth, Consumer Bank at NAB, about time.

Barry shares some great insights into prioritisation, delegation and having a discipline routine around work. He talks about the benefits of practicing stillness and pausing, rather than responding, to emails straight away, it’s great how “things can tend to resolve themselves”. And he recognises the importance of relationships and taking time to connect with people saying “if you’re going to have the conversation then take the time to have the conversation”.

In this episode you will hear Shelley read Chapter 6 of the book on the Underpinning Theme of Time. Time is one of our most precious resources, yet we use it like it’s infinite. So much is wasted on doing things that don’t need to be done, worrying about things that can’t be changed and focusing on things for longer than we need to.

When a leader can manage their time, energy and focus effectively, everything else becomes easier … so this chapter is all about helping you understand what matters.

In this episode you will hear Shelley read Chapter 5 of the book on the Overarching Theme of Communication. In this chapter, she shares the importance of recognising that how each of us views the world is different. It’s essential for a dynamic leader to follow the approach of treating others the way THEY want to be treated rather than how YOU want to be treated.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Angela Hann about her pathway to leadership and the lessons she learnt along the way.

She share the importance of balance and looking after yourself and how working smarter and not harder is the example leaders should be setting with their staff. Ange also highlights the need for leaders to seek help and support when they need it and surround themselves with people who genuinely care about your wellbeing and success.

In this episode you will hear Shelley read Chapter 4 of the book on The Four Stages of Learning. In this chapter, she shares the different levels a leader experiences in their journey to becoming dynamic. By ‘dynamic’, she means a leader who has a positive attitude, is full of energy and new ideas, and manages constant change, activity or progress really well.

In this episode Shelley speaks candidly with Paul Veldman about his time with Victoria Police along with his two plus decades of running a martial arts business. Paul recalls the transition of leadership from an authoritarian style to more of a supportive, influential style. It’s great to hear about how he teaches, nurtures and challenges his own leaders to be open to new and different perspectives to learn and grow.

In this episode you will hear Shelley read Chapter 3 of the book on The Four Stages of Learning. She shares the work of management trainer Martin M. Broadwell. It is used in psychology and by trainers to describe the stages we go through to learn a new skill. Shelley has adapted the model for use when coaching leaders to help them to understand the journey they are on, both mentally and emotionally - what they know they know and what they don’t know they know.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Fiona Preston, experienced senior leader across a variety of industries, about all things leadership. Fiona says “the role of a leader is to help their people to learn, thrive and fail!”. 

They talk about the need for humility - where leaders can admit when they’re wrong, which in turn, allows them to deliberately tune into what might be making others uncomfortable. It also gives them the courage to ask for help and use the strengths of their people rather than taking it all on themselves.

They also talk about how pomegranates are like leadership and whether to chew or swallow the seeds whole!

In this episode you will hear Shelley read Chapter 2 of the book on Unspoken Problems. She explores the underlying problems leaders face and don’t talk about with anyone else, often avoiding the subject completely. The unspoken problems are generally the root cause or underlying driver of negative behaviours playing out in a team. When a leader can address the unspoken problems the behaviours disappear and the culture of the team improves.

In this episode Shelley speaks with Cath Smith, Director HR Shared Services at RMIT University about the challenges leaders face and what they’re willing to talk about. They also talk about dealing with ambiguity and looking for the underlying causes for the behaviours being observed rather than simply what’s on the surface.

In this episode you will hear Shelley read Chapter 1 of the book on Spoken Problems. She shares the problems leaders face and are comfortable talking about with their peers, their managers and even their teams. What’s often missing when these problems are discussed, however, is the root cause or underlying driver. In other words, the spoken problem is generally the result of something else going on but that’s often left unsaid.