Access the podcast transcript here. 

Ann Scoular, co-founder of Myla Campbell, talks to Future Talent Learning's Tom Ritchie about coaching, leadership development and the application of psychology and neuroscience in the workplace. She outlines criteria for effective coaching and emphasises the importance of leaders modeling a culture of coaching in their organisations. 

Episode timestamps

• Ann Scoular talks about her career path, from being a diplomat and international banker to becoming a psychologist - 00:00-01:00 
• Attributes of an effective coach - 01:00-02:45 
• Stress and the brain: the impact of stress on the brain and how it affects higher thinking functions and creativity. - 02:45-11:25 
• Strengths inventories: Research into Queen Victoria's reign and how strengths inventories can be applied to identify and play to individual strengths - 11:25-14:56 
• The importance of reconnecting with our humanity as technology plays a greater part in our lives – and how coaching can help achieve this. - 14:56-17:24

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Psychologist John Amaechi, a former NBA basketball player, shares his his journey to sporting success and his decision to pursue a career in psychology. Talking to Future Talent Learning's Karam Filfilan, he also discusses ethics in business and his personal principles, stressing the importance of creating cultures of accountability.

Episode timestamps

• Growing up in Stockport in the UK [00:01:12] 
• Being recognised for physical ability over his intellect [00:05:28] ]
• Discovering basketball – and moving to the US to realise his ambitions [00:09:34] 
• Writing 3,000 letters to the US to find a coach [00:12:15] 
• Dealing with setbacks [00:14:29] 
• The benefits of hard work [00:18:50] 
• Principles and loyalty – turning down a contract with the Lakers [00:22:29] 
• How principles can help boost trust and engagement [00:28:12] 
• Having honest conversations and the value of micro-appraisals  [00:32:18] 
• Ethical leadership  [00:39:54]
• Being an 'everyday Jedi' [00:40:49] 

Access the podcast transcript here. 

In this episode, EY's Harvey Lewis, a data scientist (and real-life rocket scientist), urges leaders to look at talent in conjunction with technology. In conversation with Future Talent Learning's Tom Ritchie, he outlines how EY uses AI in its tax practice to help people to their jobs more efficiently and effectively. He also discusses the potential dangers of automation and the importance of governance and trust in AI. 

Episode timestamps

• Harvey Lewis talks about the importance of staying up to date with technology [00:02:30]
• The impact of technology on organisations and talent [00:07:37]
• The Importance of looking at talent in conjunction with technology [00:09:06]
• Examples of AI in EY's tax practice [00:11:56
• Reaping the benefits of AI in tax compliance [00:14:50]
• Why leaders need to understand AI [00:18:44]
• The impact of automation on people's working lives [00:20:05]
• The skills people need to co-exist with AI [00:27:00]
• The importance of deepening our existing knowledge [00:28:05]
  
  

Access the podcast transcript here. 

In conversation with Future Talent Learning's Tom Richie, Geoff McDonald, former global vice president of HR at Unilever, shares his personal struggles with mental ill health. He talks about stigma and suggests practical steps organisations can take to support employee wellbeing – including investing in education and recognising energy as a driver of performance.

Episode timestamps

• Geoff McDonald shares his personal struggles with mental ill health at work 00:01:09]
• McDonald talks about seeking support from fellow campaigner Alister Campbell to help normalise mental health in the workplace [00:04:16] 
• Tackling the ‘double stigma’ around mental health in the workplace [00:06:11] 
• Improving wellbeing at Unilever [00:07:26] 
• Stigma and lack of education [00:09:49] 
• Education and shifting the narrative [00:12:27] 
• The four factors of wellbeing [00:15:45] 
• Energy as a driver of performance [00:17:44] 
• Enhancing organisational wellbeing [00:19:53] 

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Writer and strategist Alistair Campbell talks to Future Talent Learning's CEO Jim Carrick-Birtwell about leadership and the showmanship of winning. He shares his own journey towards openness around mental health, and emphasises the role employers play in supporting wellbeing and embracing different perspectives.

Episode timestamps

• Writing Winners and learning from other walks of life [00:01:36] 
• The need for a restless, innovative mindset in politics [00:07:50]
• Campbell's drive to win and do more [00:11:39]
• The showmanship of winning [00:14:23]
• Campbell's journey towards openness about mental health [00:15:53]  
• The employer's role in supporting mental health [00:21:13] 
• Implementing mental health first aid [00:24:27] 
• Embracing different perspectives [00:28:39] 
• Heroes - from Mandela to Shakespeare [00:32:00] 
• Becoming more reflective [00:34:04]

Access the podcast transcript here. 

We talk to physician and neuroscientist Dr Alan Watkins, founder of leadership consultancy Complete, about the impact of digital transformation on leaders.

In conversation with Future Talent Learning's CEO Jim Carrick-Birtwell, Watkins explores the implications of AI on jobs, the need for 'polymath integrators' in the workforce, and how leaders can develop the skills to succeed in a rapidly changing world. He also highlights the importance of mental and emotional health at work.

Episode timestamps

• The impact of digital transformation on leaders [00:01:09] 
• Implications of AI on jobs and the rise of the 'polymath integrator' [00:04:14] 
• Leaders developing the necessary skills to succeed in a rapidly changing world [00:06:41]
• Why polymath integrators are cruical to modern organisations [00:08:09] 
• The failure of the command-and-control system [00:09:41]
• Skills not pills: training people to manage their emotional states  [00:15:53] 
• Transforming performance through self-awareness [00:16:50] 

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Writer and broadcaster Simon Fanshawe OBE, managing director of consultancy Diversity by Design and a co-founder of LGBT charity Stonewall, talks to Future Talent Learning's Tom Richie about the importance of workplace D&I. They discuss the role of diversity in answering strategic business questions and the need to value individuals' unique differences.

Episode timestamps

• Simon Fanshawe's career journey from comedian to D&I consultant [00:01:23] 
• The importance of learning new skills and embracing change [00:02:40] 
• The role of diversity in answering strategic business questions [00:06:44] 
• How diversity can help organisations adapt to changing markets [00:07:36] 
• Challenges faced by diverse groups in career advancement [00:09:01] 
• Addressing lack of diversity in senior management [00:13:14] 
• The danger of bias in technology [00:18:19] 
• Changing behaviour through engagement in different situations [00:21:42] 
• The Importance of empathy and solidarity [00:23:24] 
• Valuing difference and baking it into organisational processes [00:25:26] 
• Using tech to understand individuals in the workplace [00:27:49]

Access the podcast transcript here. 

What is curiosity? Why does it matter in the workplace? And what stops us being curious?

To answer these questions, Ross G and Ross D are joined by Dr Brennan Jacoby, philosopher and founder of Philosophy at Work, an organisation that helps businesses think their best. Brennan holds a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D in philosophy, and his doctoral work analysed trust in the context of interpersonal relationships and corporate character.

We discuss:

• Why curiosity is important
• How to ask questions, even if it’s difficult
• How to create an environment where curiosity is the norm.

Additional Information

You can find out more about Brennan at: https://philosophyatwork.co.uk/

Rainer Maria Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet is online at: https://www.alyve.org/english/docs/9.1/Rilke-Letters_to_a_Young_Poet.pdf

Find out more about wicked problems in: Grint, K. (2010). Wicked problems and clumsy solutions: the role of leadership. In The new public leadership challenge (pp. 169-186). Palgrave Macmillan, London. Available online at: http://leadershipforchange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Keith-Grint-Wicked-Problems-handout.pdf

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross D shared the mystery of where eels come from: https://www.alyve.org/english/docs/9.1/Rilke-Letters_to_a_Young_Poet.pdf

Ross G asked if it’s time to stop worrying about stress: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/feb/14/the-big-idea-is-it-time-to-stop-worrying-about-stress  

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Why is it important to have a happy team? Can we measure happiness? And what can I do to help make my team happier?

To answer these questions, Ross D and Ross G are speaking to world-renowned happiness expert Nic Marks. Nic uses statistics to research workplace culture, measure happiness, and create lasting, positive change. He’s the author of A Happiness Manifesto, a TED speaker, and heads up the workplace happiness platform ‘Friday Pulse’.

We discuss:

• What we mean by ‘happiness’
• The relationship between happiness, resilience and performance at work
• Actions that managers can take to build a happier team.

Additional Information

You can find out more about Nic at: https://nicmarks.org/

For details of Friday Pulse, see: https://fridaypulse.com/

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross G asked if it is true that an astronaut has to have their appendix removed before going into space: https://www.quora.com/Is-it-true-that-astronauts-have-to-have-their-appendix-removed-before-going-into-space

Ross D recommended the film C’Mon C’Mon: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10986222/

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Why does good writing matter? What impact does good writing have at work? What tends to go wrong? And how can we, as managers, foster a culture of good writing in our teams?

To answer these questions, Nathalie and Ross G are joined by writers John Simmons and Neil Baker. John is an independent writer and brand consultant, whose books include The Invisible Grail and The Dark Angels Trilogy. Neil is a writer and communications consultant, and Associate Poet with Canterbury’s Wise Words Festival.

Together, they work with businesses, groups and individuals to develop creative writing skills through their Dark Angels workshops.

We discuss:

• The importance of good writing at work
• Why people are afraid of writing
• How we can all become better writers.

Additional Information

You can find out more about Dark Angels at: https://darkangelswriters.com 

See also their books Dark Angels on Writing and John’s We, Me, Them & It: https://darkangelswriters.com/bookshop/

During the discussion, Ross quoted writer Anna Wiener. See: https://www.vulture.com/2020/02/spread-of-corporate-speak.html

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Nathalie recommended Merlin Sheldrake’s Entangled Life: https://www.merlinsheldrake.com/entangled-life

If you were curious, this episode was recorded on June 8, 2022, during the height of the ‘Partygate’ scandal.

Access the podcast transcript here. 

How can we become more adaptable? What do we mean by ‘adaptability’? And what personal habits can we adopt that will help us?

To answer these questions, Nathalie and Ross G are joined by author, speaker and educator Adam Kingl. Adam teaches at business schools around the world, regularly appears in the press, and is the author of Next Generation Leadership.

We discuss:

• ‘adaptability’ vs ‘agility’
• Why leaders should care about being adaptable
• The importance of experimentation, openness and slack time.

Additional Information

You can find out more about Adam at: https://adamkingl.com/

During the discussion, Ross referenced the ‘agile manifesto’, available online at: https://agilemanifesto.org/

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Nathalie discussed the relationship between the ability to recall dreams, and creativity: https://www.psypost.org/2022/05/heightened-dream-recall-ability-linked-to-increased-creativity-and-functional-brain-connectivity-63139

Ross G discussed whether the word ‘Viking’ is a verb or a noun. In short, he didn’t know. See: https://twitter.com/qikipedia/status/850310498503585792, and: https://www.reddit.com/r/Norse/comments/b317j9/where_in_the_world_did_the_myth_that_viking_is_a/  

Access the podcast transcript here. 

What is a ‘purpose’? Why is it so important for Generation Y in particular? And how do we create a purpose statement?

To answer these questions, Nathalie and Ross G are joined by author, speaker and educator Adam Kingl. Adam teaches at business schools around the world, regularly appears in the press, and is the author of Next Generation Leadership.

We discuss:

• Why purpose is important
• How to craft a purpose statement
• Examples of companies with good and bad purpose statements.

Additional Information

You can find out more about Adam at: https://adamkingl.com/

To read Coca Cola’s purpose statement, see: https://investors.coca-colacompany.com/about/our-purpose

Adam also recommended the book Firms of Endearment: https://www.firmsofendearment.com/

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross G discussed Alex Trembath’s article on the need to design climate-friendly transportation for everyone, not just the elite: https://www.persuasion.community/p/cars-are-here-to-stay-7d0?s=r

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Bruce Daisley, (then) head of Twitter's EMEA business and host of the podcast series Eat Sleep Work Repeat shares his insights around the changing world of work with Future Talent Learning's Mary Appleton. They discuss Daisley's views on work culture, his role at Twitter and his mission to help people be happier at work (including his work manifesto). 

Episode timestamps

• Eat Sleep Work Repeat – Daisley's mission to help people be happier at work [00:01:07]
• The importance of chat in the workplace [00:04:15] 
• A new work manifesto [00:06:27]
• Building dynamic teams [00:10:07] 
• Presumed permission in the workplace [00:18:03]
• Giving employees permission to work autonomously [00:20:03] 
• Working for Twitter [00:20:49] 
• Building culture and connections [00:25:37] 
• The importance of curiosity [00:30:43] 
• Digital inclusion and reskilling [00:33:11] 
• The future of work  [00:35:00] 

Access the podcast transcript here. 

What is neurodiversity? What struggles do neurodivergent people face? And what are the benefits of having a team with neurodivergent people in it?

To help explore these questions, Ross G and Ross D are joined by Laura Kerbey, founder of NEST – Neurodivergent Education Support and Training. Laura has a degree in Psychology, a Post Graduate Certificate in Special Education and a PCGE in Life Long Learning.

We discuss:

• What we mean by ‘neurodiversity’
• The typical issues that neurodivergent employees face in the workplace
• How leaders and managers can take practical steps to include neurodivergent colleagues.

Additional Information

You can find out more about NEST at: https://n-est.org/

During the discussion, the team also discussed the ‘social model of disability: https://www.scope.org.uk/about-us/social-model-of-disability/

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross D discussed lung size: https://www.lung.org/blog/how-your-lungs-work

Laura discussed ‘sensory specific satiety’ (you always have room for dessert). See: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4910838

Ross G recommended the documentary: Dinosaurs: The Final Day with David Attenborough

Access the podcast transcript here. 

How can we learn new behaviours at work? What gets in the way of learning new skills and developing new behaviours? And what are some helpful techniques that help us learn at work?

To explore this question, Ross G and Ross D are joined by Karine George, an award-winning educationalist who worked as a headteacher for more than 20 years, and is now an international keynote speaker and author.

We discuss:

• Why learning new skills is so important, no matter your age
• The role of managers in creating a safe space to practice new skills
• Three techniques for learning: spaced repetition, interleaving and reflection.

Episode Timestamps

• Importance of Learning New Skills [00:00:48] 
• Mindset and Fear as Obstacles [00:12:52] 
• Shared Responsibility and Manager's Role [00:15:35] 
• Time Management and Prioritization [00:21:57] 
• Effective Learning Techniques [00:29:05] 

Additional Information

During the discussion, Karine referenced the book Growth Mindset by Carol Dweck.

For more on Ebbinghaus and Bartlett, see: https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~jfkihlstrom/MemoryWeb/cognitive/cognitive_supp.htm

For more from Brinkerhoff and the role of managers in training transfer, see: Brinkerhoff, R. O., & Montesino, M. U. (1995). Partnerships for training transfer: Lessons from a corporate study. Human resource development quarterly, 6(3), 263-274.

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross D recommended the Merlin bird identification app: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Karine referenced a Department of Education report, online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childrens-social-care-data-in-england-2021/main-findings-childrens-social-care-in-england-2021

You can find the book Karine wrote with Rose Luckin, AI for School Teachers, at: https://www.routledge.com/AI-for-School-Teachers/Luckin-George-Cukurova/p/book/9781032037714#

Find Karine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karine-george

Or at Educate Ventures: https://www.educateventures.com/

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Are we unhealthily obsessed with mental health? What does ‘mental health’ mean in an organisational context? And is it really good for us to switch off and take a break?

To explore this question, Ross G and Ross D are joined by Dr Alan Watkins, a physician-turned-leadership-consultant. Alan now runs a leadership consultancy and coaching business called ‘Complete’. He also writes on a variety of topics, from leadership issues to how to tackle the world’s toughest problems.

We discuss:

• Why the common understanding of ‘mental health’ is completely wrong
• Whether we can really ‘switch off and relax’
• How learning about our emotions can help us – and our teams – improve our performance.

Episode Timestamps

• Introduction and defining mental health [00:00:54] 
• The role of emotions in decision-making [00:18:20] 
• Emotional literacy and regulation [00:26:00] 
• Addressing emotional issues in organizations [00:29:08] 
• Taking ownership and emotional sovereignty [00:32:37] 

Additional Information

During the discussion, Alan discussed the case of Phineas Gage and the tamping iron that passed through his brain. See more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phineas_Gage

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross D recommended the Nike Vaporfly range and the issues athletic bodies have with them: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/51324991

Alan discussed the book The Order of Time, by Carlo Rovelli: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/301539/the-order-of-time-by-rovelli-carlo/9780141984964

Ross G referenced Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/440237/project-hail-mary-by-andy-weir/9781529100617

And Ross G also discussed a Twitter thread from @CulturalTutor: https://twitter.com/culturaltutor/status/1538211892707086338?lang=en-GB

You can find out more about Alan on his website: https://complete-coherence.com/

See also his TED talks (For example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-rRgpPbR5w), and his book Coherence: The Science of Exceptional Leadership and Performance: https://complete-coherence.com/coherence-second-edition/

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Is it important to work for a company that shares my values?

To answer this question, Ross D and Ross G are joined by author, speaker and podcast co-host Nathalie Nahai.

We discuss:

• The role that values play in choosing our employers
• The limitations of psychometric testing
• Examples of companies that clearly demonstrate their values.

Episode Timestamps

• The Importance of Shared Values in Choosing Employers [00:00:57] 
• The 'Great Resignation' and the Need for Attractive Workplaces [00:01:54] 
• Remote Work and Expanded Job Choices [00:04:48] 
• Assessing Company Values and Integrity [00:06:31] 
• Understanding Personal Values [00:08:59] 
• Personality Tests and Their Limitations [00:13:55] 
• Examples of Companies Modeling Values Well [00:22:37] 

Additional Information

Nathalie’s book, is Business Unusual. Find out more at: https://www.businessunusualthebook.com/

To find out more about Nathalie, see: https://www.nathalienahai.com/biography/

We also discussed Schwartz’s Theory of Basic Human Values: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_Basic_Human_Values

This theory informed The Values Map, online at: https://thevaluesmap.com/

Change Board discussed personality testing at: https://www.futuretalentlearning.com/programme-resources/nutshell-beyond-the-fortune-cookie-the-pros-and-cons-of-psychometric-testing 

The HEXAGO model of personality structure is discussed at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HEXACO_model_of_personality_structure

Ikigai is covered at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai

The Ikigai visualisation that Ross discussed is based on a blog post at: https://theviewinside.me/what-is-your-ikigai/. Though useful, it is a topic of some debate. See: https://ikigaitribe.com/ikigai/ikigai-misunderstood/

You can read about the Big Five personality traits at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits

For examples of values-led companies, see Timpsons: https://www.timpson-group.co.uk/timpson-foundation/ex-offenders/

And Patagonia: https://www.patagonia.com/activism/

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Nathalie discussed yew trees: https://britainsbestguides.org/blogs/why-do-so-many-english-churchyards-have-yews/

If, like Ross G, you’re super interested in New York City laws and their impact on employment practices, see: https://www.wired.com/story/movement-hold-ai-accountable-gains-steam

Access the podcast transcript here. 

What is ‘design thinking’? How do we apply it? And can design thinking help us solve complex problems?

To answer these questions, Ross G and Nathalie are joined by Nick Stanhope, founder and CEO of Shift, a team of designers, researchers and strategists who use research and creativity to solve challenging social problems. Nick was named one of Britain’s 50 New Radicals by The Observer and NESTA and is a board member of the Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology.

We discuss:

• Examples of how design thinking has been applied to tackle social problems
• How to ask for budget when the outcome is uncertain
• The difficulty of applying design thinking to complex environments

Additional Information

You can find out more about Shift, and Nick, at: https://shiftdesign.org/

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Nathalie discussed The Entangled Activist by Anthea Lawson.

Ross discussed Tim Harford’s article ‘The hidden cost of cost-benefit analysis’: https://timharford.com/2022/01/the-hidden-costs-of-cost-benefit-analysis/

And Nick discussed ‘relationship-centred design’. Find out more at: https://shiftdesign.org/equation-relationship-centred-design/

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Why is networking important? If you're good at your job, and can demonstrate that, what purpose does it serve?

To answer these questions, Ross D and Ross G are joined by consultant, speaker and author Dorie Clark. Dorie was named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50, and teaches executive education at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Columbia Business School.

We discuss:

• Principles that can help you network
• How to build relationships online
• How to build an effective network on LinkedIn

Episode Timestamps

• Introduction and the Importance of Networking [00:00:18] 
• Cultural Differences in Networking Attitudes [00:02:25] 
• Types of Networking and Strategies [00:12:16] 
• The 'No Asks for a Year' Rule [00:08:26] 
• Digital Networking and the Pandemic [00:18:02] 
• Leveraging Existing Connections and Insights from Home Environments [00:15:22] 
• Closing Thoughts and Resources [00:38:12] 

Additional Information:

You can find out more about Dorie at: https://dorieclark.com/

The books Stand Out and The Long Game, by Dorie Clark, are available now: https://dorieclark.com/books/

The free e-book, Stand Out Networking, is available at: https://dorieclark.com/stand-out-networking/

And ‘The Long Game Strategic Thinking Self-Assessment' is online at: https://dorieclark.com/longgame/

Ross G referenced Robert Putnam’s book Bowling Alone.

Dorie referenced a Microsoft study that looked at connections between teams: Yang, L., Holtz, D., Jaffe, S., Suri, S., Sinha, S., Weston, J., ... & Teevan, J. (2021). The effects of remote work on collaboration among information workers. Nature human behaviour, 1-12.

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross G discussed President Obama’s memoir: A Promised Land.

Dorie recommended The Circadian Code by Satchin Panda.

And Ross D discussed Matthew Walker’s book Why We Sleep.

Access the podcast transcript here. 

What is change management? And why is it important to Anglo American?

To answer these questions, Ross D and Ross G are joined by Nicola Cohen, Change Management Specialist at Anglo American.

We discuss:

• Examples of change management
• The role of managers in successful change management
• Overcoming resistance to change.

Additional Information

Tools and resources to help you manage change are available at: https://angloamerican.sharepoint.com/sites/esc-009/corporate-comms/managing-change

In ‘One Thing I’ve Learned This Week’, Ross G shared details of what it’s like to winter in Antarctica: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/south-pole-sunrise-summer-antarctica

Ross D discussed the book What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, by Haruki Murakami.

And Nicola discussed the Fabergé in London exhibition at the V&A, which runs until 8 May 2022: https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/faberge

Access the podcast transcript here. 

How can critical thinking help us at work? What are the benefits of thinking critically? And how can we create a work culture that allows for better critical thinking in our teams?

To answer these questions, Ross D and Nathalie are joined by author and tech philosopher Tom Chatfield. Tom is the author of How To Thrive in the Digital Age, Live This Book! and, most recently, How to Think.

We discuss:

• What we mean by ‘critical thinking
• Examples of critical thinking in the workplace
• Tools and techniques that can help you improve your critical thinking.

Episode Timestamps

• Introduction [00:00:07] 
• Defining Critical Thinking [00:01:14] 
• Importance of Critical Thinking at Work [00:03:06] 
• Creating a Culture of Critical Thinking [00:07:03] 
• Long-term Thinking and Risk-Taking [00:19:23] 
• Techniques for Improving Critical Thinking [00:23:42] 

Additional Information

You can find out more about Tom at: https://tomchatfield.net/

Find Tom on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/TomChatfield

Tom recently launched a ‘Critical Thinking Masterclass’, which you can find here: https://www.vbqspeakers.com/tom-chatfield-critical-thinking-masterclass

During the discussion, we mentioned Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment, by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony and Cass Sunstein.

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross D recommended Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell.

Access the podcast transcript here. 

What do we mean by ‘creative thinking’? Can anyone think creatively? And what techniques can help us generate new ideas?

To answer these questions, Ross D and Ross G are speaking to bestselling author and innovation consultant Rod Judkins. Rod’s books Change Your Mind and The Art of Creative Thinking are available in over 15 languages; he has delivered workshops to clients that include Google, Apple, Samsung, and Bombay Sapphire; and he lectures on art, design and creative process at Central St Martin’s College of Art.

We discuss:

• The relevance of creative thinking to people in roles in ‘non-creative’ roles
• Why so many people find creative thinking difficult or scary
• Practical techniques for generating new ideas.

Episode Timestamps

• Rod's Background and Introduction to Creative Thinking [00:01:04] 
• Applying Creative Thinking in Business Contexts [00:02:53] 
• Examples of Teaching Creative Thinking [00:05:23] 
• Overcoming Resistance and Creating an Open Environment [00:11:55] 
• Creativity as a Mindset, Not Just for 'Creative' Jobs [00:21:21] 

Additional Information

To find out more about Rod, visit: https://www.rodjudkins.com

During the discussion, Ross G referenced ‘story dice’ for coming up with ideas: https://davebirss.com/storydice/

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross G discussed AirBnb’s commitment to ‘working anywhere’: https://techcrunch.com/2022/04/28/airbnb-commits-to-fully-remote-workplace-live-and-work-anywhere/

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Will robots steal our jobs? What is a robot? And is it possible for robots to replace leaders and managers?

To answer these questions, Ross G and Ross D are joined by writer, broadcaster, speaker and coach David Baker.

David worked for 12 years at the Financial Times, was managing editor of Wired magazine, and regularly presents on BBC Radio 4 and the World Service. He also teaches at The School of Life.

We discuss:

• Definitions of robots, artificial intelligence and automation
• The extent to which robots ‘threaten’ specific job roles and why
• How to take proactive steps to embrace the robot revolution

Episode Timestamps

•  Introduction and Definition of Key Terms [00:00:07] 
• Historical Perspective and Parallels with the Industrial Revolution [00:01:14] 
• Jobs at Risk of Automation [00:22:17] 
• Jobs Less Susceptible to Automation [00:28:17] 
• Societal and Economic Implications [00:33:00] 

Addtional Information

Find out if a robot will take your job at: https://willrobotstakemyjob.com/

You can find out more about David and his work at: http://www.davidbakeronline.com/

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross G the news that traffic deaths in the US are surging during the pandemic: https://messaging-custom-newsletters.nytimes.com/template/oakv2?productCode=NN&te=1&nl=the-morning&emc=edit_nn_20220215&uri=nyt://newsletter/53bb0e7d-253c-512c-905a-97a2aece9bb4

But not so much in the UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-provisional-estimates-year-ending-june-2021/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-provisional-estimates-year-ending-june-2021

David shared insights into the extent to which Brits consume baked beans: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0015tp6

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Lord Chris Holmes, Great Britain's most successful Paralympic swimmer, explains how he has achieved his goals despite losing his sight as a teenager. In conversation with Future Talent Learning's Mary Appleton, he highlights the importance of self-determination and self-belief and emphasises the potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Episode timestamps

• Lord Chris Holmes talks about his working-class upbringing in the West Midlands and losing his sight at the age of 14, which led to him having to relearn everything [00:01:32]
• Distinct ambitions [00:02:49]
• Achieving his goals through self-determination, self-belief and hard work [00:05:04]
• Overcoming hurdles [00:06:09] 
• Winning the London 2012 Olympics bid [00:08:24] 
• The Games Makers strategy [00:11:50] L
• Moving on from the Paralympic Games – joining the House of Lords [00:13:10] 
• The potential of the fourth industrial revolution to empower and enable talent [00:16:23] 
• Leadership for inclusion in the Fourth Industrial Revolution [00:19:31] 
• Humans will always win out over the robots [00:20:57] 
• Innovation, inclusion and social mobility [00:25:08] 
• Staying motivated, included and making a difference [00:28:08] 

Access the podcast transcript here. 

How much do you trust your colleagues? Do you need them to trust you? And how can we re-build trust once it’s broken?

To answer these questions, we’re joined by Dr. Brennan Jacoby, philosopher and founder of Philosophy at Work - an organisation that helps businesses think their best. Brennan holds a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D in philosophy, and his doctoral work analysed trust in the context of interpersonal relationships and corporate character.

We discuss:

• Different perspectives on ‘trust’
• The things that damage trust within teams
• What to do when trust is broken.

Episode Timestamps 

• Defining trust and its importance [00:00:52] 
• Characteristics of trustworthiness [00:14:02] 
• Factors that damage trust [00:17:32] 
• Rebuilding broken trust [00:26:54] 

Additional Information

You can find out more about Brennan at: https://philosophyatwork.co.uk/

Ross G referenced Brené Brown’s ‘marble jar’. See this video for an overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6442YcvEUH8

Other useful resources include Brennan’s article ‘How Trust Enables Great Collaboration and Innovation’: https://philosophyatwork.co.uk/how-trust-enables-great-collaboration-and-innovation/

Also, ‘Who can you trust in a post-truth world?’: https://philosophyatwork.co.uk/who-can-you-trust-in-a-post-truth-world/

Connect with Brennan at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-brennan-jacoby-51807790/

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross G discussed whether the ‘Great Resignation’ is over: https://theconversation.com/the-truth-about-the-great-resignation-who-changed-jobs-where-they-went-and-why-180159

Ross D discussed the pros and cons of Rotten Tomatoes: https://aestheticsforbirds.com/2017/09/21/against-rotten-tomatoes/

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Why is sustainability important to Anglo American? What challenges do we face? And how are we adapting? 

To answer these questions, Ross D and Ross G are joined by Anglo American’s Rob Greenberg (Head of Sustainability Integration, Governance & Performance) and Mariana Abugattas (Government Affairs and Sustainability Manager in Peru). 

We discuss 

• The extent to which investors, governments and communities care about sustainability 
• Actions taken by Anglo American’s Quellaveco project in Peru 
• The importance of sustainability to Anglo American’s ongoing operations. 

Additional Information 

In ‘One Thing I’ve Learned This Week’, Ross G shared a Twitter thread on Cadbury’s ‘gorilla’ advert: https://twitter.com/unclebernbach/status/1494665971155582984?s=21 

Access the podcast transcript here. 

How do we measure personality? What is the difference between ‘type’ and ‘trait’-based psychometric assessments? And what impact does the ‘H’ factor of personality have on you and your career?

To answer these questions, Nathalie and Ross G are speaking to Lucie Ilbury, a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Head of Client Enablement at Sova Assessment. Lucie specialises in the psychology of leadership, assessment and learning and development, while Sova provides a fully customisable assessment platform which delivers evidence-based assessment via cutting-edge digital technology.

We discuss:

• What makes a psychometric assessment valid and helpful
• Why some people are manipulative, self-entitled, materialistic and exploitative
• What we mean by ‘good psychopaths’.

Episode Timestamps 

• Introduction to Psychometric Assessments [00:01:15] 
• Type-based vs. Trait-based Personality Models [00:08:10] 
• The HEXACO Model and the 'H' Factor [00:11:05] 
• Leadership Derailment and Lopsided Leadership [00:17:55] 
• Organizational Culture and Personality Fit [00:16:54] 
• Blended Assessment Approach [00:39:04] 

Additional Information

For reference, the two models discussed are:

OCEAN = Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism

HEXACO = Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience

Note that in the HEXACO model, ‘Honesty-Humility’ is new, and neuroticism has been re-named ‘emotionality’.

For more on HEXACO, read The H Model of Personality, by Kibeom Lee and Michael C. Ashton.

To find out more about Sova and gain access to thought leadership, complementary training courses and a network of experts in assessment: join our community.

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross G discussed ‘Web 3’: https://www.wired.com/story/web3-paradise-crypto-arcade/

Nathalie discussed the ‘Internal Family Systems Model’: https://ifs-institute.com/resources/articles/internal-family-systems-model-outline

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Should we be trying to have more conflict at work? What is conflict? Should we really be trying to avoid it? Or can it be helpful?

To answer these questions, Ross D and Nathalie are joined by conflict coach Richard Savage.

Richard is an entrepreneur with a 15-year career in advertising, who now works as Managing Director of Savage Macbeth, where he trains people to help manage conflict at work. He’s also a self-trained butcher and pilot!

We discuss:

• The difference between conflict and negotiation
• The three foundations of resolving conflict (objectivity, empathy and creativity)
• Examples of how we have personally handled conflict.

Episode Timestamps 

• Introduction and Defining Conflict [00:00:59] 
• Constructive Conflict and Social Media [00:03:10] 
• Negotiation and Conflict Resolution [00:10:59] 
• Conflict in Management and Teams [00:17:12] 
• Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Resolution [00:24:22] 

Additional Information

You can find out more about Richard and Savage Macbeth at: https://www.savagemacbeth.com/

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Nathalie discussed the book Bringing Back the Beaver: https://chelseagreen.co.uk/book/bringing-back-the-beaver/

The study Ross D discussed was: Musicus, A., Tal, A., & Wansink, B. (2015). Eyes in the aisles: why is Cap’n Crunch looking down at my child?. Environment and Behavior, 47(7), 715-733. Online at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916514528793

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Should we all be working a four-day week? How do we do this while remaining profitable? And what actions do we need to take to prevent a fifth day creeping back in?

To answer these questions, Ross G and Ross D are joined by Tash Walker, founder of market research agency The Mix. The Mix have been working a four-day week for five years, and Tash is sharing her team’s experiences.

We discuss:

• Why The Mix work a four-day week
• The benefits of a four-day week, to colleagues and customers
• Advice for making a four-day week a sustainable business practice.

Additional Information

During the show, Tash referenced the ‘toast’ exercise. You can see it described on TED: https://www.ted.com/talks/tom_wujec_got_a_wicked_problem_first_tell_me_how_you_make_toast

For more on Panasonic’s experiences with a four-day week, see: https://mashable.com/article/panasonic-four-day-work-week

And for details of Iceland’s four-day week experiment, see: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57724779

You can find out more about Tash at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashawalker1

Find out more about The Mix at: https://themixglobal.com  

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross D discussed the book Let My People Go Surfing, by Yvon Chouinard: https://eu.patagonia.com/gb/en/product/let-my-people-go-surfing-revised-paperback-book/BK067.html

Ross G discussed the book Only Dull People Are Brilliant at Breakfast: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/292/292318/only-dull-people-are-brilliant-at-breakfast/9780241251805.html

Access the podcast transcript here. 

How do I give an (adequate) presentation? How should I think about structuring my presentations? And are there any differences to presenting online versus offline? 

To answer these questions, Ross G and Nathalie Nahai are joined by writer, performer and illustrator John-Paul Flintoff, a former writer and associate editor on the Financial Times, the Sunday Times and other papers and magazines. He’s also the author of six books, in 16 languages, including: A Modest Book About How To Make An Adequate Speech 

We discuss: 

• Why only an ‘adequate’ speech is required 

• The ‘Invention, Arrangement, Style, Memory, Delivery’ approach to rhetoric 

• How to prepare physically for a presentation. 

Episode Timestamps 

• Introduction – 00:00-01:20 

• Overcoming Anxiety and Aiming for 'Adequate' – 01:20-09:15 

• Focusing on Audience Needs – 09:15-18:02 

• Preparing Physically and Mentally for Presentations – 18:02- 32:34 

• Wrap up – 32:34-35:10 

• One thing I learned this week – 35:10-40:00 

Additional Information 

You can find out more about John-Paul at: https://flintoff.org/ 

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Nathalie fascinated us with the fact that many species of bees can’t fly in the dark: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/2022/03/20/honey-and-bumble-bees-cant-fly-night-tiktok-has-shown-us-that/7042738001/ 

And Ross G was even more interesting, with his slightly tedious ‘history of time zones’ story: https://www.timeanddate.com/time/time-zones-history.html 

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Is sustainability just about saving trees? What do we even mean by ‘sustainability’? And what can you do to make your organisation more sustainable from the ground up?

To answer these questions, Ross G and Ross D are joined by Darshita Gillies, the CEO of Maanch: an impact-platform for philanthropy, impact investors and corporates, that helps those stakeholders re-allocate capital and resources towards achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Darshita is also a director of Blu Dot Advisory, and regularly appears in the press, talking about impact investing and sustainability.

We discuss:

• How organisations can think holistically about sustainability
• The relationship between environmental sustainability and social impact
• How to overcome decision-making paralysis, when it feels like nothing we do matters.

Episode Timestamps 

• Introduction – 00:00-01:16 
• Defining Sustainability and Its Application - 01:16-03:30 
• Environmental Impact of Technology and Digital Services - 03:30-10:20 
• Business Strategies and Responsibilities for Sustainability - 10:20-19:23 
• Challenges and Solutions in Addressing Sustainability Issues - 19:23-24:26 
• Industry Collaboration and Collective Action for Sustainability - 24:26-30:25 
• Wrap up – 30:25-31:53 
• One thing I learned this week – 31:53-37:20 

Additional Information

You can find out more about Darshita at: https://www.darshitagillies.com/

You can find out more about Maanch at: https://maanch.com/

The ‘mosquito net’ problem that Ross G referenced was covered in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/25/world/africa/mosquito-nets-for-malaria-spawn-new-epidemic-overfishing.html

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross D shared that he’d been using Ecosia, the search engine that plants trees: https://www.ecosia.org/

Ross G discussed the actor Tom Mix: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Mix

Bonus learning on the gunfight at the O.K. Corral: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunfight_at_the_O.K._Corral  

Access the podcast transcript here. 

What is your personal brand, and why is it important?

To answer this question, Nathalie Nahai and Ross G are joined by consultant, speaker and author Dorie Clark. Dorie was named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50, and teaches executive education at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Columbia Business School.

We discuss:

• How you can find out how others perceive you
• Alignment of your brand with your experience and values
• The concept of a ‘managed’ personal brand vs authenticity at work

Episode Timestamps

• Introduction – 00:00-00:52
• Defining Personal Brand and Its Importance – 00:52-06:19
• Practical Steps to Understand Your Brand – 06:19-12:44
• Identifying a Path for Your Brand – 12:44-22:24
• Managing Your Brand While Being Authentic – 22:24-32:58
• Wrap up – 32:58-35:41
• One thing I learned this week – 35:41-42:50

Additional Information 

You can find out more about Dorie at: https://dorieclark.com/

The book Reinventing You is available now, and a free tool to accompany the book is online at: https://dorieclark.com/reinvent/

We also discussed Amy Cuddy’s TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are

Herminia Ibarra wrote about the authenticity paradox for Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2015/01/the-authenticity-paradox

Carol Dweck’s book was Growth Mindset.

Dorie Clark and Christie Smith’s article, ‘Help Your Employees Be Themselves at Work’, is online at: https://hbr.org/2014/11/help-your-employees-be-themselves-at-work

Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World's Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life was written by William Green.

In ‘One Thing I Learned This Week’, Ross G discussed spoon theory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory

Emma Gannon’s website is: https://www.emmagannon.co.uk/ 

Dorie recommended The Drama Bookshop, in New York, owned by Lin-Manuel Miranda: https://www.dramabookshop.com/

And Nathalie recommended the book This Is Your Mind On Plants, by Michael Pollan: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/665612/this-is-your-mind-on-plants-by-michael-pollan/

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Should we be winging it more at work? To answer this question, Ross G and Ross D are joined by comedian, playwright and author Max Dickins. We discuss:

• What improvisation is
• The differences between improvising and planning
• How improvisation is the ideal skill to help you succeed at work.

Episode Timestamps 

• Introduction – 00:00-00:27
• Improv, planning and collaboration – 00:27-13:49
• The power of listening and “Yes and” – 13:49-19:41
• Introverts, Extroverts and overcoming nerves – 19:41-25:29
• Making Mistakes and statuses – 25:29-33:25
• Wrap up – 33:25-35:50
• One thing I learned this week – 35:50-41:51

Additional Information 

Max’s book is Improvise!: Use the Secrets of Improv to Achieve Extraordinary Results at Work. You can find out more about him at: https://www.hooplabusiness.com/copy-of-our-team

Change Board covered improvisation and agile mindsets at: https://www.changeboard.com/article-details/17294/nutshell-expecting-the-unexpected-developing-an-agile-mindset

In ‘One Thing I’ve Learned This Week’, Ross G shared insights into the conditions that set up creative hot streaks: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/13/scientists-identify-key-conditions-set-up-creative-hot-streak

Max discussed the process of writing his new book, Billy No Mates, out in July 2022.

And Ross D discussed the ‘eating the frog’ technique, which has been covered by Todoist: https://todoist.com/productivity-methods/eat-the-frog

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Is it better to see the glass half empty? Is stoicism the answer? To answer these questions, Ross G and Ross D are joined by practical philosopher Julian Evans, author of The Art of Losing Control, Philosophy for Life and Holiday from The Self. We discuss:

• What stoicism is
• How stoicism can help us navigate life’s challenges
• The impact of stoicism at work.

Episode Timestamps 

• Introduction – 00:00-02:15
• Common Perceptions of Stoicism – 02:15-06:21
• Core Stoic Teachings and Techniques – 06:21-19:23
• Introducing Workplace Stoicism – 19:23-22:43
• Applying Stoic Resilience Today – 22:43-30:38
• Wrap up – 30:38-33:20
• One thing I learned this week – 33:20-36:49

Additional Information 

The books that Jules mentioned were Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, and Discourses by Epictetus.

You can find out more about Julian at: https://www.philosophyforlife.org/

Change Board covered stoicism at: https://www.changeboard.com/article-details/17160/nutshell-stoicism-a-practical-philosophy-for-life-and-work/

And Derren Brown discusses ‘strategic pessimism’ on YouTube, at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKfUK1Gd6YM

In ‘One Thing I’ve Learned This Week’, Ross D recommended Colson Whitehead’s Harlem Shuffle.

Jules recommended the Netflix series Midnight Mass, the music of Neil Diamond, and Will Sharpe’s TV series Flowers and Landscapers.

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Adam Kingl, managing director for Europe at Duke Corporate Education, discusses societal trends and changes in the workplace. In conversation with Future Talent Learning's Tom Ritchie, Kingl talks about the evolution of capitalism, the perspectives of younger employees and why businesses must adapt to meet the challenges of the 21st century. He argues that effective modern leadership is less bureaucratic and more inclusive, with a focus on sustainability and purpose.

Episode timestamps

• How capitalism how changed over the centuries, leading to a new inflection point [00:01:12]
• Generational differences in the workplace [00:04:28] 
• Adapting management philosophy and architecture [00:08:03]
• 21st-century management [00:09:14] 
• The need for a less bureaucratic form of leadership and how leaders can adopt future-focused methods in their leadership today [00:11:24]
• Technology and keadership [00:16:06] 
• Societal trends and changes in the workplace [00:17:37]
• Development opportunities for Gen Y [00:20:23] 
• Managing fundamental change – thinking like activists [00:22:17] 

Access the podcast transcript here. 

How do I present so that people really listen? And how do I calm my nerves so I can present with confidence? To answer these questions, Ross D and Ross G are joined by Caroline Goyder, voice coach and author of the books Gravitas, Find Your Voice and The Star Qualities. We discuss:

• The importance of telling an engaging story
• The importance of preparing for ‘rehearsed spontaneity’
• Breathing techniques to calm your nerves.

Episode Timestamps

• Introduction – 00:00-00:34
• Using storytelling frameworks and the dramatic arc – 00:34-02:47
• Practicing intention-setting, visualization and empathy - 02:47-07:44
• Controlling nerves and rehearsing – 07:44-16:15
• Balancing preparation with spontaneous response 16:15-19:20
• Using breathing, body language and energy 19:20-27:49
• Wrap up – 27:49-29:09
• One thing I learned this week – 29:09-34:47

Additional Information

Caroline’s TEDx talk is online at: https://www.carolinegoyder.com/2017/02/03/the-surprising-secret-to-speaking-with-confidence-caroline-goyder-tedxbrixton/

Future Talent Learning described how to create presentations that pack a punch at: https://www.changeboard.com/article-details/17201/nutshell-from-aristotle-to-obama-how-to-create-presentations-that-pack-a-punch

In ‘One Thing I’ve Learned This Week’, Ross G discussed research into why bosses are inflexible about flexible work arrangements. You can find out more at: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/employers-flexible-working-post-pandemic

Caroline discussed techniques for neutralising nerves. You can find these in her blog ‘How to Stay in Your Lane and Avoid Comparison’: https://www.carolinegoyder.com/how-to-stay-in-your-lane-and-avoid-comparison/

And Ross D discussed AI features in the photo editing software Lightroom.

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Episode Summary

What is psychological safety? And how can leaders and managers promote psychological safety in a hybrid working context? To answer these questions, Nathalie Nahai and Ross G are speaking to Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School and author of The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth. We discuss:

• Whether you can really have psychological safety in a work environment
• What the shift to hybrid working mean for psychological safety
• The impact of diverse teams on psychological safety.

Episode Timestamps 

• Introduction - 00:00-00:56
• Defining and Challenges of Psychological Safety 00:56-13:05
• What does psychological safety mean in virtual environment 13:05-27:02
• Cultivating Psychological Safety 27:02-29:21
• Potential in the Metaverse - 29:21-33:56
• Wrap up – 33:56-37:29
• One thing I learned this week – 37:29-41:17

Additional Information

The book Ross mentioned was Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, by Robert D. Putnam.

The Daily Mail article Ross mentioned was ‘Working from home increases your risk of making mistakes’, online at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10283471/Working-home-increases-risk-making-mistakes-scientists-say.html

This article discussed the paper: Künn, S., Seel, C., & Zegners, D. (2021). Cognitive Performance in Remote Work-Evidence from Professional Chess. The Economic Journal.

Find out more about Professor Edmondson at: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=6451

In ‘One Thing I’ve Learned This Week’, Ross discussed the ‘Mission: ISS’ experience, available on the Oculus VR headset: https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/1178419975552187

And Nathalie discussed the book From What Is to What If: Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want, by Rob Hopkins.

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Episode Summary

What is followership? And why is it important for leaders? To answer these questions, Ross G and Ross D are joined by Dr Zahira Jasser, Assistant Professor at the University of Sussex Business School, who worked in the financial sector as a banker, manager and consultant before entering academia. We discuss:

• The need to focus on ‘followership’ as much as ‘leadership’
• Four types of ‘follower’
• How followers influence leaders.

Episode Timestamps 

• Introduction - 00:00-00:37
• The traditional heroic view of leadership is limited – 00:37-09:53
• Followership is an active, empowered role – 09:53-20:08
• Connecting leaders use practices like being a Janus – 20:08-24:08
• Other practices include being a broker – 24:08-27:28
• And a conduit – 27:28-29:32
• As well as a tightrope walker – 29:32-34:38
• Wrap up – 34:38-36:44
• One thing I learned this week – 36:44-43:21

Additional Information

Zahira’s Harvard Business Review article on this topic was ‘The Real Value of Middle Managers’, online at: https://hbr.org/2021/06/the-real-value-of-middle-managers

You can find Zahira on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/ZahiraJaser

In ‘One Thing I’ve Learned This Week’, Ross D recommended Nate Silver’s book The Signal and the Noise, and specifically how the ‘Super Bowl Indicator’ is correlated with the stock market’s performance. You can find the book at: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/305826/the-signal-and-the-noise-by-nate-silver/

Zahira recommended A Very Short, Fairly Interesting and Reasonably Cheap Book about Management Theory, by Todd Bridgman and Stephen Cummings: https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/a-very-short-fairly-interesting-and-reasonably-cheap-book-about-management-theory/book268894 

And Ross G shared an extract from the book Letters of Note, which you can find online at: https://lettersofnote.com/ 

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Episode Summary

What is strategy? Is it a complicated plan that no one understands? A unique offering that’s hard tomaintain? A business buzzword while the boots on the ground do the....y’know... work!

To answer these questions, Ross G and Ross D are speaking to Alex Smith, founder of Basic Arts. Alex created Basic Arts to help organisations where strategies are disjointed or confused. Which sounds like pretty much every organisation.

We discuss:

• What a good strategy looks like
• Famous (and not so famous) examples of brands with an effective strategy
• How strategies can be developed.

Episode Timestamps 

• Introduction - 00:00-01:54
• What is business strategy and why do so few companies have one - 01:54-05:06
• Examples of effective business strategies - 05:06-20:36
• Key elements of a good business strategy - 20:36-25:37
• How to develop an effective business strategy - 25:37-28:49
• Wrap up - 28:49-29:55
• One thing I learned this week - 29:55-38:01

Additional Information

In ‘One Thing I’ve Learned This Week’, Ross D shared that Hollywood studios store old film reels in a salt mine in Kansas. You can read more at: https://klaq.com/thousands-of-priceless-movie-reels-are-kept-in-a-salt-mine-in-mo/

Alex shared the story of the Savannah Bananas and their ‘circus’ routine, see: https://advertiser-tribune.com/news/339878/savannah-bananas-minor-league-baseball-team-or-circus/

And Ross G discussed Michael Mann’s interview about 1995 drama Heat on The Rewatchables podcast: https://www.theringer.com/2021/11/2/22758064/the-three-heat-with-bill-simmons-chris-ryan-and-michael-mann

You can find out more about Alex at: https://basicarts.org/

His newsletter is online at: https://basicarts.org/the-way/

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Episode Summary

Should we be more curious about how we’re managing our time? 

Whether you’re planning the next five years of your career or the next eight hours of your working day, there are plenty of tools and techniques that can help us achieve our goals. But is the practice of time management all that it claims to be?

To discuss, Ross D and Nathalie Nahai are joined by author and speaker Francesco Dimitri. We discuss:

• Whether we can really ‘manage’ our time
• The pros and cons of time management tools
• The importance of ‘messing up’.

Episode Timestamps 

• Introduction – 00:00-01:10
• Time management implies time is a resource to be optimized – 01:10- 06:58
• Time management has diminishing returns – 06:58-07:45
• Creativity requires a more holistic approach – 07:45-13:54
• Leave space for messiness – 13:54-28:06
• Ritual can distinguish mindsets – 28:06-31:46
• Wrap up – 31:46-32:37
• One thing I learned this week – 32:37-38:27

Additional Information

In ‘One Thing I’ve Learned This Week’, Nathalie discussed how Climate Works store carbon from the air. You can find out more at: https://www.climateworks.org/

Ross D discussed the eco-friendly web browser Ecosia: https://www.ecosia.org/

Francesco discussed the old tradition of carving turnips at Halloween, instead of pumpkins: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-people-carved-turnips-instead-of-pumpkins-for-halloween-180978922/

Find out more about Francesco at: https://www.francescodimitri.com/

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Episode Summary

Do customers want a relationship? We hear a lot about brand loyalty, but does it even exist? To answer these questions, Ross G and Ross D are joined by Anna Miley and John Sills.

Anna is a strategy and insight specialist, who once scientifically validated that Lynx deodorant does indeed make the wearer more attractive.

And John is a Managing Partner at The Foundation, where he makes things better for customers.

We discuss:

• What a ‘customer relationship’ is.
• Examples of brands that have good customer relationships.
• The role of marketing in building brand loyalty – or papering over the cracks.

Episode Timestamps 

• Introduction - 00:00-06:00
• Do customers inherently want brand relationships? - 06:00-13:36
• Is marketing just window-dressing on poor service? - 13:36-18:13
• Who owns the customer relationship? - 18:13-22:31
• Examples of customer-centric brands - 22:31-26:00
• How to build loyalty - 26:00-28:28
• Why do customers stay loyal - 28:28-33:33
• What is an example of good marketing and customer experience? - 26:00-36:14
• Wrap up - 36:14-37:00
• One thing I have learned this week - 37:00-44:49

Additional Information

In ‘One Thing I’ve Learned This Week’, Ross G shared an article from Oliver Burkeman: ‘How a longer walk to baggage reclaim cut complaints’, available online at:  https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/sep/07/how-to-beat-bottlenecks-oliver-burkeman

Details of Burkeman’s book, Four Thousand Weeks, are available at: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/books

John discussed the impact on the world of the Mercator projection, once discussed in a famous scene from The West Wing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVX-PrBRtTY

For more from The Foundation, visit: https://www.the-foundation.com/

John writes a newsletter at: https://johnjsills.com/

And the book, The Customer Copernicus, is available from: https://www.thecustomercopernicus.com/

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Emma Birchall, head of insight and forecasting at Hotspots Movement, explores the implications of longer lives for society and business. In conversation with Future Talent Learning's Karam Filfilan, she explains why we need to reskill and reinvent ourselves continuallly to stay valuable in the workforce and why organisations must provide opportunities for horizontal moves and skills-building. She emphasises the importance of  human skills and peer-to-peer learning. 

Episode timestamps

• The 100 Year Life: what skills do we need to survive? [00:00:18] 
• Financial challenges of retirement [00:03:12]
• Experimenting with changes to our working lives [00:05:41] 
• The need to reinvent ourselves due to technological change [00:07:48] 
• Building skills continuously [00:10:26] 
• Building our intangible assets [00:13:42]
• The employer role in brokering training [00:17:29]
• Future-proofing organisations [00:20:04] 
• Developing uniquely human skills [00:22:53] 
• Future-proofing our careers [00:24:35] 

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Barrister and broadcaster Hashi Mohamed talks to Future Talent Learning's Tom Ritchie  about inequality and barriers to social mobility in context to his own upbringing. Mohamed shares his experiences of growing up in deprived areas of the UK, going through the education system and beating the odds to become a barrister. He discusses the challenges faced by those from minority backgrounds in achieving success and the importance of improving workplace diversity and inclusion.

Episode timestamps

• Hashi Mohamed's journey from Kenya to the UK – and his career journey becoming a barrister [00:00:22]
• Defining and measuring social mobility [00:02:24] 
• Developing a work ethic and the importance of mentoring [00:08:42] 
• Adapting to different environments [00:12:47] 
• The impact of inequalities on social mobility [00:16:46] 
• The challenges faced by leaders in increasing diversity in the workforce [00:22:08]
• Overcoming biases in hiring practices [00:24:03] 
• The class ceiling [00:25:35]
• Changing workplace dynamics [00:31:20]

Access the podcast transcript here. 

In this episode, we chat with Tim Campbell, head of global citizenship at AMS and winner of the first series of TV show The Apprentice. Talking to Future Talent Learning's Tom Ritchie, Campbell describes his own entrepreneurial journey, his passion for future talent initiatives and his belief in apprenticeships as a viable option for young people. They discuss the importance of future-proofing young people's skill sets, the need to promote greater diversity in the workforce, and the role of businesses in informing the education system about employers' needs. 

Episode timestamps

• Campbell describes his entrepreneurial journey [00:01:23]
• The value and appeal of apprenticeships [00:02:43] 
• Future-proofing young people's skill sets [00:04:53] 
• Promoting greater diversity in the workforce [00:07:43] 
• Can apprenticeships help with diversity in talent pipelines? [00:10:18]
• Personal career progression – Campbell's experiences and challenges [00:12:02]
• Winning The Apprentice [00:15:31] 
• Childhood Heroes [00:18:24] 

Access the podcast transcript here. 

Tracy Groves, CEO and founder of Intelligent Ethics, shares her expertise in corporate conduct and ethics with Future Talent Learning's Tom Ritchie. Groves emphasises the importance of trustworthiness in leadership and the need for leaders to be authentic and engage at a transformational level. She also addresses the issue of harassment in the workplace, the role of technology in building trust and respect, and the generational aspect of the #MeToo movement.

Episode timestamps

• The importance of trustworthiness in leadership, and how leaders can be authentic and engage at a transformational level [00:02:06]
• A growing trust deficit between business and society, and how it may be a crisis of leadership rather than a crisis of trust [00:04:06]
• The reaction of business to #MeToo [00:06:29] 
• Creating a respectful workplace – the four blocks of the Strategic Relationships Management Framework [00:07:55] 
• The #MeToo mvement and generational attitudes [00:10:18] 
• Using technology to build trust [00:12:25] 

Access the podcast transcript here. 

In this episode, David Brewin, a partner at EY, shares his experiences of struggling with detachment and depression for most of his adult life – and suffering a breakdown in 2010. He talks to Future Talent Learning's Karam Filfilan about the importance of seeking help and the value of self-reflection, and provides insights into the challenges of managing mental health in high-pressure work environments.

Episode timestamps

• Brewin's background and breakdown [00:00:20]
• How Brewin lost his ability to think clearly [00:03:43]
• A disconnect between head and heart [00:08:02]
• Learning to listen to emotions [00:11:00]
• The value of group sessions [00:12:12]
• The Importance of self-reflection [00:16:13]
• The Impact of technology on mental health [00:19:03]
• The responsibility of leaders and organisations to model healthy behaviour [00:21:39]
• How to take care of yourself [00:24:33]
• Advice for those who are struggling [00:29:35]