Navigating Leadership Waters

03/13/24 • 13 min

If you've got a problem at work, is it:
a) you
b) other people
c) the environment
d) all of the above.

Have you ever changed jobs, only to find the issue still exists in your new job? This is a definite sign that you thought it was (C - the environment) but it was actually (A - you).

So how do you figure out the cause of the issue before making big changes? In this episode I use a metaphor from Positive Psychology called the Sailboat (I also referenced this tool in podcast episode #60 with Liz Bradford).

I talk through the sailboat, a story about my own 'sailboat', what happened when I moved to Paris, and how you can answer the multi-choice question above by listening to the episode.

Here are three key takeaways:

Know Your Sailboat: Just as a captain must understand every aspect of their vessel, effective leadership begins with self-awareness. Identifying your strengths (sails) and weaknesses (leaks), clarifying your values (steering wheel), and setting clear goals (destination) are crucial steps toward navigating your leadership journey successfully.
Navigate the Waters: Understanding the dynamics of the environment you operate in (life's domains) is essential. Whether it's adapting to change (weather events) or managing relationships (other boats), recognizing the external factors at play allows for more informed decision-making and effective leadership.
Chart Your Course: Leadership is not a solo journey; it's about leading teams toward a common goal. By fostering open dialogue and aligning individual and team objectives, you can create a shared vision and set actionable steps (SMART goals) to propel your organisation forward.

If you find yourself seeking a tailored approach to leadership development or team building, reach out to discuss our workshop options. Whether it's a one-off session or a comprehensive leadership program, I'd love to help you unlock your team's full potential and achieve your desired outcomes.

Remember, small changes can lead to significant growth over time. What 1% will you apply from this week's podcast?

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If you've got a problem at work, is it:
a) you
b) other people
c) the environment
d) all of the above.

Have you ever changed jobs, only to find the issue still exists in your new job? This is a definite sign that you thought it was (C - the environment) but it was actually (A - you).

I talk through the sailboat, a story about my own 'sailboat', what happened when I moved to Paris, and how you can answer the multi-choice question above by listening to the episode.

Here are three key takeaways:

Know Your Sailboat: Just as a captain must understand every aspect of their vessel, effective leadership begins with self-awareness. Identifying your strengths (sails) and weaknesses (leaks), clarifying your values (steering wheel), and setting clear goals (destination) are crucial steps toward navigating your leadership journey successfully.
Navigate the Waters: Understanding the dynamics of the environment you operate in (life's domains) is essential. Whether it's adapting to change (weather events) or managing relationships (other boats), recognizing the external factors at play allows for more informed decision-making and effective leadership.
Chart Your Course: Leadership is not a solo journey; it's about leading teams toward a common goal. By fostering open dialogue and aligning individual and team objectives, you can create a shared vision and set actionable steps (SMART goals) to propel your organisation forward.

Remember, small changes can lead to significant growth over time. What 1% will you apply from this week's podcast?

Previous Episode

Leadership Resilience: Navigating Burnout and Driving Organisational Change, with Liz Bradford

Have you experienced burnout, or know some who has? Today's guest is the remarkable Liz Bradford, a seasoned leader with 20 years of diverse experience, currently serving as the Managing Director of Wholesale Banking at HSBC Asia in Hong Kong and the CEO of Transform Perform. Liz shares candidly about her defining moment in leadership, experiencing burnout not once, but 1.5 times, and the crucial lessons learned from those experiences.

Liz emphasizes the importance of embracing discomfort, holding tough conversations, and building resilience, both as an individual leader and within the organizational culture. Our conversation delves into the complexities of driving large-scale transformations, where Liz highlights that 80 percent of successful change is rooted in cultural shifts rather than just technological advancements.
Our discussion covers the significance of emotional intelligence, transparency, and setting a north star for organizational success. Join us as we explore the human side of leadership, learning from Liz's journey and uncovering actionable strategies for creating resilient and inclusive organizational cultures. It was an honour to hear Liz's valuable perspectives and lessons in this engaging episode.

Guest Bio - Liz Bradford

Transform.Perform https://www.transformperform.org/
Book: Life is short
Liz Bradford Linkedin

Liz Bradford has 20 years of diverse leadership experience having worked across three continents and at firms spanning HSBC, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and SWIFT. She is currently the Managing Director of Wholesale Banking at HSBC, Asia (based in Hong Kong) and the CEO of Transform Perform, a platform of coaches and workplace wellbeing and development providers to advise and support businesses building more sustainable employee propositions. Her career has ranged from product management to C-Suite roles driving operational excellence, people engagement and technology transformation across teams of 7,500+ in 14 countries, with oversight of U$bn+ P&Ls. Her passion is employee engagement wellbeing and culture, specifically nurturing healthy, inclusive cultures and tackling toxic ones.
Examples include:
- Leadership of employee resource groups representing 48,000 diverse employees across 60 markets globally
- Design and delivery of female talent development programmes across 14 markets, and
- Implementation of wellbeing challenges and programmes impacting 5,000+ a year globally.
Through Transform Perform she delivers coaching programmes and facilitation for the empowerment of employees, to develop high performing teams, and to inspire people managers to step into enterprise leadership. An ICF accredited organisational and executive coach, a qualified personal trainer and a certified wellbeing coach, Liz regularly speaks on the topics of inclusion, female leadership, wellbeing, busting burnout, stress managem

Next Episode

From Dancer to CEO: Claire O'Shea's journey to build a thriving dance business

Join Claire O'Shea on her journey from young dancer to Dance Energy Studios founder, podcast producer, and business mentor. At just 19 she started her first dance studio and in this interview she shares insights on scaling her studio, building the right team, and navigating leadership in the arts. Learn about her transition from dance teacher (the person with the technical skill) to the CEO, leading a number of businesses, being the strategic manager, mastering delegation and balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship.
We loved learning about how Claire's leadership style shapes her studio's culture, even when she's not in the spotlight. Tune in to hear her story.
Join the Founders Academy of Business
Guest Bio - Claire O'Shea
Claire O'Shea is a dynamic entrepreneur and educator in the dance industry, serving as the Founder, Director, and Class Teacher of Dance Energy Studios. With a Bachelor of Education, Claire has developed innovative programs like Petite Performers Preschool Dance, designed for children aged 0-5. She spearheads digital initiatives such as 'Dance on Demand' and mentors aspiring dance educators through the 'Power Up Teacher Training Program.' As host of the "Assemble Dance Studio Coaching Podcast," Claire shares valuable insights with dance studio owners worldwide, while her speaking engagements and coaching sessions inspire growth and success in the industry.

Instagram: @assembledancestudiocoaching @danceenergystudios
https://assembledancestudiocoaching.com/
www.danceenergystudios.net.au
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/assemble-dance-studio-coaching/id1276431018

Level Up Leadership - Navigating Leadership Waters

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:04.527

Welcome to the Level Up Leadership Podcast . This is the go-to podcast for chronically busy leaders and small business owners who are ready to get out of the weeds and start leading . The weekly episodes have micro leadership lessons focused on how to level up your leadership and help you to be 1% better every day . It's all about growing your leadership wisdom , building your team