Dig Deeper

What if the question isn't "Where are all the leaders?" but "Where are all the responsible adults?" Today I'm joined by Kirsten Patterson, better known as KP, CEO of the Institute of Directors New Zealand and chair of the Global Network of Directors Institutes. She had an auspicious start by getting suspended from school at five for challenging the system. Yet she went on to become one of New Zeal...

What if resistance isn't something to overcome, but something to work with? And what if that uncomfortable tension you feel when facing change is pointing you toward something valuable on the other side? This solocast dives into the emotional messiness of change through the lens of a recent house move. It’s one of life's most stressful transitions. You'll discover how loss aversion creates natural...

What if your perception of "unhurried productivity" isn't about someone constantly on holiday, but rather a deliberate approach to crafting a life aligned with your values? And what if the most powerful leadership practice isn't about getting things done faster, but creating genuine I-matter conversations where people truly feel seen and heard? That's what emerges in this special episode of Dig De...

Ever found yourself so focused on getting things done that you've completely disconnected from what you're feeling? And noticed how that numbness starts seeping into your relationships, your team dynamics, and your ability to truly lead? This episode explores the critical balance between head and heart in leadership – and why operating from just one without the other is limiting your impact. You'l...

Do you find yourself constantly seeking clarity and certainty, even when faced with complex challenges that don't have simple answers? What if that very pursuit of certainty – that comfortable feeling we all chase – is actually blocking your growth, your learning, and your ability to create something new? This episode explores the counterintuitive idea that confusion isn't something to avoid, but...

What if the most powerful thing you could do as a leader isn't to step in and save the day, but to step back and create space for others to shine? And what if your obsession with being the hero is actually preventing your team from reaching their potential? This episode looks at one of the most challenging transitions in leadership: moving from hero to host. You'll discover why the traditional her...

Have you ever found yourself caught in an endless cycle of meetings and tasks, wondering if your leadership is truly making a difference? What if the most powerful leadership tool isn't your strategic plan or your team's expertise, but your ability to recognise and act on the second chances life gives you? This episode explores how our personal challenges can become a driving force and focusing to...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to shift an entire leadership team's mindset and approach in today's fast-changing environment? This week, I share a case study from a recent 12-month engagement with a senior leadership team. It’s a story about moving from technical perfection to purposeful experimentation, and from control to empowerment. You'll discover the four essential ingredients that ma...

What if leadership isn't about having all the answers, but about creating the right space for people to thrive? And what if the outcomes from meetings weren’t just about being efficiency and effectiveness, but also about being engaging and expansive? Simon Dowling brings a fascinating blend of legal precision and improvisational creativity to his work with leaders. We explore how the most impactfu...

Are you trapped in a life you didn't consciously choose? Do you find yourself constantly reacting to demands rather than intentionally responding? Are you seeking a more deliberate way to live and lead that creates impact without burning you out? In this episode, Derek Sivers shares counterintuitive wisdom about breaking free from unconscious patterns, embracing slow thinking in a reactive world,...

Have you ever wanted to take a career break? Maybe you’ve taken one and want to get inspiration for the next one? Perhaps you’re curious about how you can make them a part of your organisation’s talent strategy? Career breaks done well can provide massive benefits for your professional and personal life. This conversation gives you both ideas for the inspiration and implementation of your own care...

Have you ever felt caught between competing identities in your professional life? Perhaps you've built a career on expertise and achievement in one domain, only to find yourself navigating an entirely new landscape that fundamentally changes how you're perceived. Today's conversation explores the importance of evolving your identity as your context changes, and how as we get older, we can get more...

Do you know that feeling when you're in a meeting or delivering a speech and you're caught up in thinking about what you want to say next? Then you completely miss the moment when something happens? And you're scrambling to catch up? This episode hones in on how we can stay more present to what's going on and then respond in the moment to what's happening so we can engage people more effectively a...

How willing are you to let your ideas be destroyed? That's a scary concept for many people because we can equate good ideas with being worthy. But what if your worth comes from being a learner and not perfect? In this messy and complex world where the old structures and systems of society and work are found wanting, we need to evolve and adopt new ideas fast. If you want to level up how you lead c...

Are you trying to make lasting change happen, but you feel like you’re banging your head against a wall of short-term dramas and siloed thinking? This episode will help you to rise above the fray and hone in on how to be valuable, stay relevant, and play the longer game. Dr. Richard Hodge is one of Australasia’s preeminent thought-leaders in systems thinking. He’s been in the workforce since 1970,...

Do you feel like work is taking over your life, leaving little room for fulfillment? Are you struggling to make your work align with your values or wondering how to create more balance and purpose in your career? In this episode, we explore how to bring more meaning into your work by aligning it with your values and learning how to lead with purpose. You'll hear how restructuring your approach to...

Have you ever felt uncertain about your career path or questioned whether your empathetic leadership style is a strength or a weakness? Or maybe you’ve wondered if it’s okay to embrace a non-linear, “squiggly” career while still finding success and fulfillment. In this episode, we dive deep into the power of following your gut, embracing a career that doesn’t follow the traditional path, and leadi...

In this final episode of Dig Deeper for 2024, I’m reflecting on the key themes I’ve explored in the podcast and my blogs throughout the year. I'll cover four themes: the importance of discomfort for growth the shift from a hero to a host mindset in leadership the necessity of creating space for reflection the power of letting go of control. Each theme has insights from previous podcast guests and...

Do you ever feel hamstrung by the rules you’re bound by? The have-to’s and should’s and the ‘don’t-do-that’s’ that govern your work practices and broader life? Do you ever wonder what things would be like if you could change the rules of the game? Rules are invented. They're made up. Which means they can be uninvented, or reinvented. Today’s conversation with behaviouralist and facilitator Suzanne...

Leadership is a journey of constant tension – between expectation and authenticity, between comfort and courage, between being liked and being effective. What if you could transform those tensions into your greatest source of strength? Join me for an extraordinary conversation with Sir Ashley Bloomfield, a leader who navigated one of the most challenging leadership landscapes in recent history. Du...

Do you ever feel the need to be the leader with all the answers? Do you feel the relentless pressure to bow to the barrage of deliverables that are in front of you every day? Do you wish you could just get some space? There’s got to be a better way, right? This episode is gold if you’re looking for a better way to sustain your own and your people’s performance and growth. James Miller is an execut...

Have you ever wished you could take a career break? If you’re finding yourself at a career crossroads, or you’re simply seeking more fulfillment and satisfaction from your work, this episode is for you. You’ll see what can be made possible when you get deliberate about creating spaces between the chapters of your career, and learn how to structure ‘time out’ to make the most of your breaks and set...

What happens when you slow down? If you feel like life is a relentless treadmill, this episode offers an alternative. You’ll get fresh perspectives about what can happen when you unhook from relentless busyness, and an invitation to explore what really matters when it comes to leading yourself and others. Andrew Maffett is a lifelong adventurer and learner. He recently retired from a successful bu...

How effectively can you bring out the best in a group of people? We can often get trapped into thinking that it’s our role to be the ‘hero’ for a group, where it’s likely that you can be way more effective by being the ‘host’. This episode will help you get out of your own way so you can unlock the potential that exists in those you lead. Today I’m talking with creative producer and speaker coach...

What's your relationship like with discomfort? What about asking for feedback? Both of these things are essential to get our heads around if we're going to find our own way to lead and thrive in life. This entertaining, thought-provoking conversation with Callum McKirdy will help you to become more comfortable with being uncomfortable. You’ll learn: Why the fear of feedback stems from the disconne...