Dig Deeper – Détails, épisodes et analyse

What's your relationship like with discomfort? What about asking for feedback? Both of these things are essential to get our heads around if we're going to find our own way to lead and thrive in life.

This entertaining, thought-provoking conversation with Callum McKirdy will help you to become more comfortable with being uncomfortable. You’ll learn:

1. Why the fear of feedback stems from the disconnect between how we see ourselves and how others see us
2. How allowing people into our worlds and being vulnerable is the next big thing in breaking down barriers
3. How leadership is about facilitating an environment for others to bring their best and be their best (but not necessarily to be comfortable)
4. How letting go of control and embracing discomfort can lead to growth and new possibilities
5. That discomfort is not inherently bad; it can be a catalyst for self-reflection and change

You can find Callum at Website | LinkedIn

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Can we ever obtain a fully productive work life, or a fully productive organisation? What does that even mean? This rich conversation with impact coach and business consultant Danni Ermilova Williams will give you a fresh perspective on how to reshape work to create more meaningful, sustaining experiences.

Danni and I explore what it means to live and work well. We dig deep into how we put unseen limits in place and how we can create space for busting those limits for ourselves and our organisational cultures so we can get on with doing and being what matters most. We explore the idea of control versus surrender, and how the power of language can limit us, or open us up to new possibilities.

You can find Danni at Website | LinkedIn

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There's no one way to lead. Yet we need to find a way. Our way. That can be hard to get right. As we find our own way to lead it can be useful to listen to how others found theirs.

I'm your host, Digby Scott, leadership coach and author of Change Makers. I'm on a mission to help people find their authentic way to lead so they can have more impact with less drama. Each fortnight, I'll share a rich, unhurried conversation with someone who’s leaned into and learned from the challenges of leadership, change, and life while staying true to themselves.

You'll get to experience me doing what I do best: asking the surface-piercing questions to help people see what they couldn't see before. Including you.

Learn more about my courses and get more resources at https://www.digbyscott.com/

Do you find yourself constantly seeking clarity and certainty, even when faced with complex challenges that don't have simple answers? What if that very pursuit of certainty – that comfortable feeling we all chase – is actually blocking your growth, your learning, and your ability to create something new?

This episode explores the counterintuitive idea that confusion isn't something to avoid, but rather something to value as a gateway to deeper learning. What's possible when we release our grip on needing to know and instead embrace the generative space of uncertainty? Together we consider how the most meaningful growth often happens precisely when we're willing to step into discomfort rather than rushing to make it disappear.

Jennifer Garvey-Berger is a thoughtful disruptor who's constantly questioning how we might do business, relationships, family, and leadership better. As CEO of Cultivating Leadership, she's spent decades helping leaders navigate complexity and uncertainty. Jennifer brings a fascinating blend of intellectual rigor and lived experience to our conversation, including her bold experiment of buying a house with twelve friends in France to deliberately create a different way of living. In this episode, you'll discover:

1. How confusion serves as a necessary gateway to learning and growth
2. Why certainty, despite feeling comfortable, often blocks our ability to discover new possibilities
3. How good conversations create something neither person had thought of before
4. Why crafting a meaningful life requires questioning default assumptions
5. How deliberate disruption can lead to more authentic ways of working and living
6. Why play and exploration remain essential elements of leadership at any age
7. How creating intentional communities can challenge our assumptions about work/life separation
8. Why our idealism is not something to outgrow but rather a strength to cultivate

Timestamps

(00:00) The Value of Confusion

(08:47) The Quest for a Better World

(14:55) Living Fully vs. To-Do Lists

(32:18) Creating a Unique Living Environment

(40:03) Growth Through Difficulties

(42:28) Giving Less Fucks

Other references:

1. David Whyte: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9100423-what-you-can-plan-is-too-small-for-you-to
2. Richard Bach: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusions_(Bach_novel)
3. Oliver Burkeman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Thousand_Weeks:_Time_Management_for_Mortals
4. Vito Perrone: https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/news/11/09/hgse-remembers-vito-perrone
5. Thomas Huebl: https://thomashuebl.com/
6. Heidi Brookes: https://www.cultivatingleadership.com/team-member/heidi-brooks
7. Andrew Maffett: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/8dc40ef3-104d-4a48-a38e-495ed4650abb
8. Adam Cooper: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/48bf4ecf-f533-47d3-943e-2445135d473d

You can find Jennifer at:

Website: https://www.cultivatingleadership.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-garvey-berger-7b4a264/

Books: "Unlocking Leadership Mind Traps," "Simple Habits for Complex Times," and "Changing on the Job"

Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/

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What if the most powerful thing you could do as a leader isn't to step in and save the day, but to step back and create space for others to shine? And what if your obsession with being the hero is actually preventing your team from reaching their potential?

This episode looks at one of the most challenging transitions in leadership: moving from hero to host. You'll discover why the traditional heroic model of leadership, where you're the one with all the answers, solving every problem, is unsustainable and ultimately limits both your impact and your team's growth.

I'll share practical insights on how stepping away strategically can enhance your leadership effectiveness, create self-sustaining systems, and build the kind of collaborative culture where everyone thrives. This isn't about becoming passive or disengaged. It's about becoming the kind of leader who creates ecosystems rather than dependencies.

You'll learn:

1. How to recognise when your heroic tendencies are holding your team back
2. The difference between stepping away and stepping out – and why timing matters
3. Practical strategies for creating psychological safety that allows others to step up
4. How to build sustainable systems that don't depend on your constant intervention
5. Why focusing on who you build is more important than what you build
6. Specific tools and approaches to make the hero-to-host transition successfully
7. How to celebrate team successes in ways that reinforce collaborative culture
8. The art of identifying opportunities to step back without losing momentum

Whether you're burning out from trying to be everything to everyone, or you're ready to create lasting impact beyond your direct involvement, this episode will reshape how you think about what leadership really means.

Download the Plan on a Page mentioned in this episode here: https://www.digbyscott.com/planonapage

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Are you trying to make lasting change happen, but you feel like you’re banging your head against a wall of short-term dramas and siloed thinking?

This episode will help you to rise above the fray and hone in on how to be valuable, stay relevant, and play the longer game.

Dr. Richard Hodge is one of Australasia’s preeminent thought-leaders in systems thinking. He’s been in the workforce since 1970, with wide experience in science, engineering, public sector policy and the corporate world. Richard was one of the founding fathers of a major strategy business in Canberra, growing it to 80 staff and >$20M in revenue in 6 years. In 2007, he moved from advising GMs to being one in a global engineering business until he was sacked in 2010, one week after completing his PhD (part time). Since then, Richard has established his own practice helping leaders engage - not manage – complexity with the help of systems sciences.

Together, Richard and I dig deep into:

1. Why understanding value is crucial for effective leadership and decision-making
2. How relevance is determined by how well we align our actions with our values
3. How the long tail of consequences highlights the impact of our actions over time
4. Why community engagement is essential for sustainable change
5. The importance of efficiency not overshadowing ethics in organisational practices
6. How generational wisdom plays a crucial role in systems thinking
7. Why imagination is essential for envisioning change
8. How making small, incremental steps can lead to significant transformation
9. How defining 'enough' is vital for personal equilibrium.
10. Why connection and relationships are at the heart of effective leadership.

If you're looking for ways to have a more lasting and sustainable impact in your work and life, this episode will give you lasting pearls of wisdom.

Time Stamps:

(00:00) - Imagining Better Leadership Through Systems Thinking

(03:05) - The Dragonfly: A Metaphor for Leadership

(08:09) - Understanding Value, Relevance, and Long-Term Impact

(14:21) - The Role of Community in Effective Leadership

(21:38) - The Five E's of Leadership: Beyond Efficiency

(24:51) - Personal Stories Shaping Systems Thinking

(30:41) - Challenges in Implementing Systems Thinking in Organisations

(33:09) - Systems Thinking: The Spirit of Adventure

(35:37) - Imagination and Possibility Thinking in Leadership

(38:57) - The Long Game: Transformational Change in Organisations

(44:26) - Personal Growth: Applying Systems Thinking to Individual Development

(58:58) - Defining Enough: Values and Life Choices

You can find Richard at:

Website: https://www.drrichardhodge.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrichardhodge/

Article: Play the Long Game https://www.digbyscott.com/thoughts/play-the-long-game

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Do you feel like work is taking over your life, leaving little room for fulfillment? Are you struggling to make your work align with your values or wondering how to create more balance and purpose in your career?

In this episode, we explore how to bring more meaning into your work by aligning it with your values and learning how to lead with purpose. You'll hear how restructuring your approach to work can help you avoid burnout, create healthier boundaries, and make a lasting impact without sacrificing your well-being.

Gillian Brookes is an HR professional, consultant, and author of Flexperts, with a passion for creating workplaces that serve people, not just the bottom line. In this episode, we dive into:

1. How to redesign flexible work to create balance and well-being.
2. Why the current economic structure is leaving many people behind—and how we can change that.
3. The importance of boundaries and how to set them as a leader and working parent.
4. How to sustain your energy while maintaining conviction in your values.
5. What it means to create a purposeful and integrated life where work and personal values coexist.

You can find Gillian at:

Website: https://www.gillianbrookes.co.nz/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-brookes-88928aa2/

Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/

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Have you ever felt uncertain about your career path or questioned whether your empathetic leadership style is a strength or a weakness?

Or maybe you’ve wondered if it’s okay to embrace a non-linear, “squiggly” career while still finding success and fulfillment.

In this episode, we dive deep into the power of following your gut, embracing a career that doesn’t follow the traditional path, and leading with vulnerability and empathy.

If you’ve ever worried about being ‘too nice’ as a leader, or if you’re facing burnout and wondering how to recharge, this conversation will help you uncover how to honour your values while carving your own path.

Jodi Willocks has a background in marketing and advertising. With 21 jobs in 26 years, she has a hugely diverse range of experiences that give her a unique perspective on leadership. She’s also a co-founder of the Women of Pōneke movement, and is an exquisite writer on leadership and career topics.

In our conversation, we explore:

1. Why empathy is a strength, not a weakness, in leadership
2. The importance of trusting your instincts and following a non-linear career path
3. How embracing vulnerability can unlock more authentic and effective leadership
4. What Jodi learned from leading through COVID and how it transformed her approach

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introducing Jodi Willocks

(04:45) - The Foundation of Authentic Leadership

(10:05) - The Impact of COVID on Leadership

(17:54) - Navigating Career Breaks and Burnout

(28:58) - Discovering Creativity Through Blogging

(34:43) - The Importance of Recovery and Recharge

(42:58) - The Sanctuary, Sandpit, and Stage Framework

(50:13) - Ingredients for Successful Leadership

You can find Jodi at:

Website: https://www.careerjourneying.nz/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-willocks-6b035446/

Women of Pōneke: https://www.womenofponeke.org.nz/

Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/

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In this final episode of Dig Deeper for 2024, I’m reflecting on the key themes I’ve explored in the podcast and my blogs throughout the year. I'll cover four themes:

1. the importance of discomfort for growth
2. the shift from a hero to a host mindset in leadership
3. the necessity of creating space for reflection
4. the power of letting go of control.

Each theme has insights from previous podcast guests and excerpts from my writing, and some questions for you to take away and reflect on.

Links:

Fire, by Judy Brown: https://www.judysorumbrown.com/blog/breathing-space

The Let Go: https://www.digbyscott.com/thoughts/the-let-go

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Do you ever feel hamstrung by the rules you’re bound by? The have-to’s and should’s and the ‘don’t-do-that’s’ that govern your work practices and broader life? Do you ever wonder what things would be like if you could change the rules of the game?

Rules are invented. They're made up. Which means they can be uninvented, or reinvented. Today’s conversation with behaviouralist and facilitator Suzanne Rosa explores the importance of identifying, challenging, and changing the rules to serve the purpose we’re here for.

After listening, you’ll have a fresh way of thinking about how you can unlock new ways of working and living to create more of what matters.

Suzanne was born in England and now lives in Sydney. She had a really tough upbringing: born deaf, she had multiple operations to restore her hearing. Then she lived in a truck travelling around Europe before becoming a foster child and then a homeless teenager. All of this led her to dig deeply into life's range of emotions and explore how we can utilise all that living has to offer. She's the author of two books, A Flourishing Mind, and Sleeping Giants. She can be summed up in three words: energy, curiosity, and ferocity.

In this conversation, we explore:

1. How our perception and lenses shape the meaning we make of the world
2. There is no one truth, and why it's important to question our own perspective
3. How societal conditioning often limits our ability to pioneer and think outside the box
4. How listening to our own signals and questioning the rules that hold us back can create conditions for a pioneering spirit
5. The importance of questioning societal norms and rules
6. How to take time to regather and ground yourself before embarking on new chapters of personal growth.

You can find Suzanne at:

1. Website: https://suzannerosa.com/
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannewaldron/?originalSubdomain=au

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1. Follow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/