Leadership BITES – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode I sit down with author, entrepreneur and thought-leader Margaret Heffernan to explore two of her seminal ideas: the hidden dangers of conforming to systems that blind us to obvious truths (from her book Willful Blindness) and the vital importance of embracing uncertainty, especially through the lens of writers, artists and creatives (from her latest work Embracing Uncertainty).

 We talk about how organisations and individuals get stuck in the comfort of predictability, why innovation is not merely incremental improvement, what creative people can teach business leaders about sensing the future and navigating chaos, and the critical role of agency, curiosity and courage even when outcomes are uncertain. 

It’s a conversation designed for senior leaders, coaches, team-effectiveness practitioners and anyone who wants to see beyond the status quo. 

 00:00 Introduction & technical note
 02:15 Who is Margaret Heffernan: career, context and influences
 08:45 Exploring Willful Blindness: what it means, in business and culture
17:20 Why systems and institutions encourage willful blindness
23:30 The trigger for the next book: from Uncharted to Embracing Uncertainty
29:08 Join to second recording – framing the shift to artists, music, creativity
31:00 What does “embracing uncertainty” really mean in today’s world
38:40 COVID, anticipation and why the future unsettled so many organisations
45:50 Creatives, artists and the ability to sense the future ahead of others
52:12 Divergent thinking vs incremental improvement: defining “innovation”
56:22 Leadership and agency when certainty is not possible
01:03:15 How context, character and culture interact in enabling creative agency
01:10:00 Practical take-aways for senior leaders and coaches
01:15:30 Closing thoughts: system change, individual mindsets, human skills 

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

In this episode of Leadership Bites, Mita Mallick shares her journey from being a bullied child to becoming a champion for inclusion in the workplace. She emphasizes the importance of consistency and discipline in achieving success and discusses how creating inclusive cultures starts at home. Mita highlights the need for respectful conversations in the workplace and the role of leaders in fostering psychological safety. She also introduces her new book, 'The Devil Emails at Midnight,' which explores the archetypes of bad bosses and encourages self-reflection among leaders.

Takeaways

• Mita is on a mission to fix what's broken in workplaces.
• Consistency and discipline are key to success.
• Everyone has experienced a time when they didn't belong.
• Creating inclusive cultures starts at home.
• We need to disagree with kindness and respect.
• Psychological safety is crucial for open conversations.
• Leaders must take ownership of their impact on others.
• Understanding intent versus impact is vital in communication.
• Self-reflection is necessary for effective leadership.
• Mita's new book explores bad boss archetypes and encourages growth.

Sound bites

• "I'm on a mission to fix what's broken."
• "Consistency is my underrated superpower."
• "We all have one toxic habit."

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:58 The Importance of Consistency and Discipline
05:53 Mita's Origin Story and Journey
09:03 Creating Inclusive Cultures Starts at Home
11:52 The Hijacking of Inclusion Conversations
14:38 The Need for Kind and Respectful Conversations
17:40 Psychological Safety in Conversations
20:20 The Role of Leaders in Inclusion
23:19 Understanding Intent vs. Impact
26:24 Mita's New Book: The Devil Emails at Midnight
29:27 Exploring Bad Boss Archetypes
32:26 The Importance of Self-Reflection in Leadership
35:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

Summary

In this episode of the Leadership Bites podcast, Guy Bloom interviews Brad Englert, who shares his extensive career journey from Accenture to becoming a Chief Information Officer at the University of Texas at Austin. 

They discuss the importance of building authentic business relationships, the role of trust in influence, and strategies for effective networking. Brad emphasizes the need for intentionality in professional relationships and the significance of customer retention for business success. 

In this conversation, Brad Englert discusses the importance of understanding goals and aspirations in leadership, the significance of building relationships and managing expectations, and the necessity of creating a culture of openness and communication. He emphasizes the art of apology and accountability in leadership, and shares practical strategies for managing expectations effectively. The dialogue highlights the value of discretionary effort and the importance of fostering trust and collaboration within teams.

Takeaways

• Brad Englert has over 22 years of experience at Accenture.
• He transitioned from a successful career to a CIO role at a university.
• Building a culture of transparency and customer focus is crucial.
• Trust is the foundation of effective influence in business.
• Networking should focus on long-term relationships, not just transactions.
• Intentionality in relationships leads to better outcomes.
• Understanding others' goals is key to successful collaboration.
• Repeat customers are a sign of successful relationship management.
• Mentorship and continuous learning are vital in career development.
• Authentic relationships can withstand the test of time. Understanding goals and aspirations is crucial for effective leadership.
• People are not mind readers; communication is key.
• Building relationships requires vulnerability and openness.
• Discretionary effort comes from genuine care and interest in team members.
• Creating a culture of communication helps in managing expectations.
• The art of apology builds trust and accountability.
• Managing expectations is an ongoing process, not just annual reviews.
• Using techniques like 'Whoa' can help in managing urgent requests.
• Introverts can be encouraged to engage through structured processes.
• Fostering a supportive environment allows for innovation and challenge.

Sound Bites

• "Be strategic and intentional."
• "Networking is longevity of relationship."
• "Use your words."
• "People are not mind readers."
• "Discretionary effort is the difference."
• "It's a muscle memory."
• "You can still be somebody that people trust."
• "I will get to the bottom of it."
• "You have to wipe the slate clean with me."
• "Just saying whoa gives the space and time."

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

Joel is an experienced adult educator, organizational development consultant and project manager with 20 years of progressive international experience from the UN, NGO and consulting sectors.

His role is the oversight, delviery and instigation of leadership development. This was a great episode to hear his approach, midset and focus.

The UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution.

They lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.

Delivering life-saving assistance, helping safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place called home where they can build a better future. Working to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality.

They are active in 130 countries, using their expertise to protect and care for millions.

The UNHCR recognises that its greatest asset is their workforce.

These are passionate, talented and creative individuals who want to use their skills for good. Thanks to people like this, they can develop solutions that enable people who have been forced to flee to restart their lives and build better futures.

To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here

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Listen on laptop, phone or PC:
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Via podcast: 
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Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3q9DaHv
Google: https://bit.ly/39nQUsg
iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/3lmgPTk
Stitcher: https://bit.ly/33rQVHW 

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

Why do leaders have to keep learning? Because according to Reg Revan, "Learning must be equal to or greater than the change that is going on around you". That seems to make sense, you are never done learning, not as an individual, a team or an organisation:

• Why leaders have to learn
• Tame and Wicked learning cultures
• The 'interview questions' on learning
• Thinking beyond the event horizon
• Understanding wisdom as a leader

This was a LIVE Linked in stream so look out for those and the full video is live on the YouTube Channel. You can see all links below.

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Listen on laptop, phone or PC:
https://bit.ly/leadershipbites

Via podcast: 👇👇👇 ➡️
Apple: https://apple.co/39pYHpr
Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3q9DaHv
Google: https://bit.ly/39nQUsg
iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/3lmgPTk
Stitcher: https://bit.ly/33rQVHW
Website: https://bit.ly/leadershipbitesweb
Youtube: http://bit.ly/guybloomyoutube

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

Carmin Romanelli is one of the my favourite people that I never get to hang out with. He is one of those characters that is a character and has character. They don't alway go to together, however they do with Carmin.

Carmin is the VP for Global Sports at Getty Images has a hugely succesful track record of working in the sports industry including NBA, Sports Illustrated and Getty Images. He is a vastly experienced professional skilled in Digital Strategy, Content, Licensing, Business Development, Integrated Marketing, Media, Advertising, and Business Management.

Why do I like him? Well, I like his peronal transparency and take on the world, he sees the truth in situations and is able to verbalise them in a manner that makes sense to those in the room.

Carmin is to use a familiar phrase: "A straight shooter".

We talk about leaderhip, culture and what leadership looks and feels like.

To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here

👇👇👇 ➡️
Listen on laptop, phone or PC:
https://bit.ly/leadershipbites

Via podcast: 
Apple: https://apple.co/39pYHpr
Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3q9DaHv
Google: https://bit.ly/39nQUsg
iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/3lmgPTk
Stitcher: https://bit.ly/33rQVHW 
 

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

The story is not what you think. REEBOK wasnt born in the US. It was in fact born from a Bolton familly in a terrace house.

This is a  story of working hard, spotting the opportunity, never stopping, stepping up to the plate and frankly making your own luck.

Joe was born on 18 May 1935 and shared a birthday with his grandfather Joseph William, who had set up sports shoe manufacturer J.W. Foster & Sons, in Bolton, in 1900.

Joseph William died around 18 months prior to Joe's birth but was a pioneer in his day, especially in the use of spikes on the bottom of running shoes. His shoes were worn by the likes of Harold Abraham and Eric Liddell, eventually being immortalised in Academy Award-winning film Chariots of Fire.

"He learned the best way to sell his shoes was to have influencers," Joe said.

"He was giving shoes to leading athletes and in the 1920s he was supplying all of the Olympic teams, it was amazing. He was supplying the bulk of football leagues as well."

"Back then, the shoes weren't for the street, they were pure performance."

Talking about how he named REEBOK:

"I just opened the dictionary on R because I thought it was a good, strong letter. I came across Reebok and thought 'fantastic', it was a small South African Gazelle and with us being a running company, it fit nicely."

Joe talks about how "then we heard about this thing called Aerobics..."

Hollywood stars such as Sigourney Weaver and Cybill Shepherd went on to wear Reebok shoes in Aliens and at the Emmy Awards respectively.

This is a great story and a great episode.

To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here

👇👇👇 ➡️
Listen on laptop, phone or PC:
https://bit.ly/leadershipbites

Via podcast: 
Apple: https://apple.co/39pYHpr
Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3q9DaHv
Google: https://bit.ly/39nQUsg
iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/3lmgPTk
Stitcher: https://bit.ly/33rQVHW 

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

Andy Holmes is the Global Head of Welbeing at reckitt and he has has one of those roles that seems easy to say. However is laden with the complexities of understanding the nuances of the 'wellbeing' agenda in different countries and contexts.

How do you actually make wellbeing resonate for people?

As the Global Head of Wellbeing at reckitt, Andy has a role that spans many truths and his role is to help leaders make sense of it for themselves and others.

To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here

👇👇👇 ➡️
Listen on laptop, phone or PC:
https://bit.ly/leadershipbites

Via podcast: 
Apple: https://apple.co/39pYHpr
Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3q9DaHv
Google: https://bit.ly/39nQUsg
iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/3lmgPTk
Stitcher: https://bit.ly/33rQVHW 

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

Darrell 'Flash' Gordan, CEO & President at Wernle Youth & Family Treatment Center  & Owner & President at Gordon Enterprises, LLC and Author.

Darrell is responsible for turning around a multi-million dollar non-profit residential and community base treatment agency.

He oversees all aspects of philanthropy, marketing, public relations, finance, operations, quality control, human resources, customer relations, business development and strategic planning in accordance with Board directives and corporation charters.

Recipient of the 2005 Achievement of Excellence, Non-Profit of the Year.

He is also the author of Change Does Not Occur In A Flash.

To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here

👇👇👇 ➡️
Listen on laptop, phone or PC:
https://bit.ly/leadershipbites

Via podcast: 
Apple: https://apple.co/39pYHpr
Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3q9DaHv
Google: https://bit.ly/39nQUsg
iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/3lmgPTk
Stitcher: https://bit.ly/33rQVHW

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com

Mike Friday is one of the world's leading International 7's coaches having coached the most successful teams ever for England, Kenya and USA.

A former professional rugby player, for London Wasps, who successfully balanced the demands of playing premiership rugby with the pursuit of a successful professional career as a chartered surveyor.

Mike is a great character, he speaks candidly and his journey is testament to the complexity of life and that getting whee you need to go is often not a straight line.

We talk rugby, training, teams and life.

To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here

👇👇👇 ➡️
Listen on laptop, phone or PC:
https://bit.ly/leadershipbites

Via podcast: 
Apple: https://apple.co/39pYHpr
Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3q9DaHv
Google: https://bit.ly/39nQUsg
iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/3lmgPTk
Stitcher: https://bit.ly/33rQVHW

To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.

The link to everything CLICK HERE
UK: 07827 953814
Email: guybloom@livingbrave.com
Web: www.livingbrave.com