13 | Putting Leadership at the heart of Business

08/20/18 • 32 min

Orlagh has worked in HR and organisational change for more years than she cared to admit to in this week's interview :-). She started her career in Retail and FMCG before moving into Financial Services as Group HRD in RSA. She then returned to Ireland to become Chief People Officer in AIB and, more recently, interim HRD in Virgin Media Ireland.

She set up Human Leadership in 2018 to help organisations thrive in the changing world of work by focusing on leadership and the role of human qualities in the digital era.

For more on Orlagh and on Human Leadership see her website - www.human-leadership.com

Show Notes:

58s – A bit about Orlagh her work, clients, kids and a crazy dog! – 2.20 – Human Leadership – 5.52 –Everybody in business wants to feel as though they’re playing a part – 3.57 – There are opportunities for human characteristics in the digital age – 5.50 – The changing nature of the world of work – 6.20 – What makes a leader a great leader – 12.00 – The education system needs to support a new way of learning – 13.15 – How does a leader create an engaging workplace? – 17.30 – The role of leader as a communicator during change – 19.40 – The power of connection and purpose – 21.30 – Helping leaders to translate strategy – 23.50 – Unearthing compelling stories in RSA – 24.50 – An Post getting stories to postal staff – 26.00 – Stories build pride – 26.30 – Orlagh’s leadership role models – 28.00 – We’re all works in progress and just need to be the best version of ourselves. – 29.50 – Orlagh’s advice for her 20-year-old self – You don’t need to do it all.

She set up Human Leadership in 2018 to help organisations thrive in the changing world of work by focusing on leadership and the role of human qualities in the digital era.

For more on Orlagh and on Human Leadership see her website - www.human-leadership.com

Show Notes:

Previous Episode

12 | The Emotion behind storytelling Leaders must learn

15 years ago, around her kitchen table, Alison co-founded The Storytellers with a plan to help organisations communicate their strategy and vision in a more emotionally compelling way. Since then, they've applied their storytelling framework to over 170 multi-nationals across the globe. Alison and her team have seen the power of a great story and, when it's supported by emotionally engaging leaders and continuous reinforcement through real-life stories, the positive impact it can have on business performance.

To find out more about Alison you can view her profile on LinkedIn.

Show Notes:

1.07s – The Storytellers, Cromwell Place, Lavery, Collins, Churchill and the Anglo-Irish Agreement – 3.12 – A bit about The Storytellers and bringing strategy to life emotionally – 5.52 –Everybody in business wants to feel as though they’re playing a part – 8.02 – Leaders struggle to understand why and how strategy is relevant to them – 9.22 – Stories and strong leadership are key drivers of engagement – 9.57 – Building authenticity and credibility – 11.07 – Bringing your whole self to work and hiding behind language – 12.42 – Storytelling takes courage and guidance but it’s in us – 13.52 – How do you create a narrative - 16.22 – Structure is key – beginning, middle and end; how what and why – 18.52 – It shouldn’t be pages and pages of content – 19.57 – How do you bring it to life through an organisation. Leaders are key – 22.02 – Using champions to get the story out – 23.32 – The comms team has an important part to play – 24.22 – Stories help to identify unsung heroes – 26.12 – Kerry Foods – keeping the story alive – 30.52 – To be credible, processes need to be aligned to your story.

Next Episode

14 | Change Communications Tips for Organisations

Tom has worked in communications for over 20 years. He started his career in PR working with brands like Microsoft, Intel and Gateway before, in the late 1990s with the advent of the Irish tech boom, turning his attention to tech startups, working in Iona, Marrakech and Cape Clear.

In 2005 he joined Microsoft Ireland before moving to HQ in Seattle in 2009. He's worked in a number of roles in PR and CSR and, more recently, in internal communications, where he's played a key role in driving global change for 15,000 staff across 140 countries in Microsoft Services.

For more on Tom's career, see his LinkedIn profile here.

Show Notes:

58s – A bit about Tom and his career journey – 3.33 – Getting people involved in change – 4.35 – We will use AI but there’s always a role for people – 6.00 – Managing change for 15,000 people – 7.35 – Case for change, over-communicating and vision – 9.40 – Getting your people on board – 10.50 Change is a journey, not a straight A to B – 12.50 – Handling uncertainty – 13.30 – The role of leaders – 15.15 – Upskilling leaders in communications – 16.30 – Being a people manager is hard work! – 17.50 – Planning comms during long term change – 19.00 – Involving people shows they have a voice – 20.00 – The power of storytelling during change – 24.00 – Tom’s leadership role models – 26.35 –Tom’s advice for his 20-year-old self – keep learning and look at things differently