S.I.M.I.C.

Why do brilliant leaders struggle to create real change? Leadership isn't about having authority—it's about earning influence. In this episode, Dragan Simic talks with healthcare executive strategist Jack O'Connor about why transformation initiatives fail, why high-performing leaders plateau, and how alignment, trust, and conscious communication turn resistance into commitment. Connect...

Why do even the most experienced leaders struggle to speak up when it matters most? In this episode, I sit down with communication coach Helen von Dadelszen to explore why courage comes before confidence—and how finding your authentic voice can transform difficult conversations, leadership, and influence. We also uncover a powerful factor that most people rarely associate with communication, yet o...

Who invented conscious communication? The answer may surprise you. In this episode, we uncover the strange origins of an idea that emerged over thousands of years—and why every leader who wants less conflict, more trust, and better conversations should understand it.

Why do some conversations create trust while others create resistance before they even begin? In Episode 38, I am extremely happy and honoured to welcome Toby Blatchford-Tagg, Founder and CEO of The Lead Lab. For more than a decade, Toby has helped organisations transform LinkedIn from a noisy social platform into a powerful tool for creating meaningful business conversations and authentic profess...

You've heard it before: 55% body language 38% tone of voice 7% words But what if one of the most quoted "facts" in communication is actually one of the most misunderstood? In this episode, I take a closer look at the famous 7-38-55 rule and explain why leaders, trainers, and organisations continue to get it wrong. Discover: - What Albert Mehrabian's research actually showed - Why...

The Rolling Stones are still going strong after more than 60 years together. Coincidence? Or is there something leaders can learn from endurance, communication, conflict, and finding something bigger than the disagreement? As the old saying goes: Age is mind over matter, and if you don't mind, it doesn't matter.  

Do We Really Live Longer Than Our Ancestors? — And What This Reveals About Leadership, Conflict & Communication? What if one of the biggest myths about human history is completely misunderstood? In this episode, I explore the truth behind life expectancy, why people in the past often lived much longer than we think, and what this reveals about leadership, communication, conflict, and modern li...

Most people think that the Martial Arts are about fighting. They’re not. True Martial Arts is about: Discipline. Presence. Emotional control. Communication. And learning to face yourself. In this episode, I explore what the dojo taught me about life, self-esteem, and conscious communication — and how leaders and managers can use these lessons to build trust, stay calm under pressure, reduce confli...

You don’t lack motivation. You may be trapped waiting to feel ready . In this episode of the Leader’s Conscious Communication Podcast, Dragan Simic explores why motivation is unreliable, how the “readiness trap” keeps people stuck, and why action must come before confidence. Because real change rarely starts with motivation. It starts with movement.

You’ve been told you need to figure it out on your own. Build your life. Fix yourself. Become better. But what if that is exactly what is holding you back?  

According to Gallup, 80% of employees are disengaged. In this episode, we look beyond the numbers — what’s really behind them, and what leaders can do about it.

What happens when life doesn’t give you a warning? In this deeply personal episode, I share the moment I stood next to my father as he took his final breaths. Based on my book The Goodbye Greeting , this story is about loss, shock, and what grief truly does to you. Not about “moving on” — but about facing reality, feeling everything, and discovering what really matters. A raw reflection on: loss a...

Conflict, absenteeism, and disengagement are not the problem. They are symptoms of something much deeper: poor communication that no one sees—or addresses. In this 3-part series, we expose the hidden communication breakdown that silently destroys trust, performance, and leadership impact inside teams. Because what kills teams is not just what is said… The hidden chain reaction: Silence → Misalignm...

(2/3) The Hidden Chain Reaction Behind Team Problems - From Silence to Conflict to Absenteeism. Today’s episode: Psychological Safety Conflict, absenteeism, and disengagement are just symptoms of something much deeper: poor communication that no one sees—or addresses. In this 3-part series, we expose the hidden communication breakdown that silently destroys trust, performance, and leadership impac...

Conflict, absenteeism, and disengagement are just symptoms of something much deeper: poor communication that no one sees—or addresses. In this 3-part series, we expose the hidden communication breakdown that silently destroys trust, performance, and leadership impact inside teams. Because what kills teams is not just what is said… The hidden chain reaction: Silence → Misalignment → Conflict → Abse...

Why is listening so difficult… even when you’re trying your best? Most people think it’s about discipline. Not necessarily. There’s a hidden problem in how our brain works during conversations — and once you see it, you’ll never listen the same way again. In this episode, we uncover why people drift off mid-conversation, how this silently damages communication at work, and what great communicators...

Are you winning discussions at work… or losing the people you work with? After seeing a striking message at Eindhoven Airport, this episode explores a growing problem inside organisations: workplace polarisation . When conversations shift from understanding to winning, trust erodes and collaboration suffers. How does polarisation quietly develop between teams and departments — and what can leaders...

Why do some teams thrive under pressure… while others collapse? The difference is often not talent. It is how stress is managed. In this episode, we explore the science behind stress, performance, and leadership — why the wrong kind of pressure destroys communication and decision-making, and what leaders can do to turn pressure into performance instead of burnout.

The Confidence Myth or the Double Bind. Why do so many capable women wait until they feel completely ready before speaking up, applying, or stepping forward? And what does that cost teams and organisations? In this episode, we challenge the idea that women “lack confidence.” What if it’s not a confidence issue — but something else? We explore:• Why “I must be fully prepared” creates internal press...

Silence in leadership is never neutral. When managers withhold information — even with good intentions — trust erodes, tension rises, and performance drops. In this episode, we explore the psychology of informational justice — a powerful concept from organisational research that explains why employees tolerate bad news better than no news at all. You’ll learn: - What informational justice really m...

In this episode, we explore why curiosity maybe one of the most underestimated leadership skills. You’ll discover: • The hidden cost of assumption in leadership • What curiosity does to the brain • Why curiosity reduces ego-defensiveness • The link between curiosity and psychological safety • Practical ways to operationalise curiosity in daily leadership Curiosity shifts us from: Interpretation →...

 “I Have Nothing to Hide” as The Quiet End ofMeaningful Communication Privacy is not secrecy; it is the foundation of human connection. Feel free to leave your comment or view on this topic. I would love to hear from you.

As the year draws to a close, here we are again—reflecting, resolving, and repeating.

“ziek zijn en verzuim”

Election day is closing in, in the Netherlands, and I just couldn't help myself, so I made this satire. Enjoy!