Micro to Momentum : The Leadership Series

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about asking better questions. In this episode, I explore how coaching-based leadership transforms conversations, drawing on the work of David Rock, Michael Bungay Stanier, and Edgar Schein. Discover how curiosity, silence, and agency help shift your team from dependency to ownership — one thoughtful question at a time. Show References Bungay St...

Calm isn’t the absence of emotion, it’s the understanding of it. In this episode, I explore emotional granularity, the skill of naming emotions precisely so we can navigate them intelligently. Drawing on the work of Lisa Feldman Barrett, Marc Brackett, and Amy Edmondson, I share simple ways leaders can model emotional language, strengthen trust, and build more emotionally intelligent teams. Show R...

Big change rarely starts big. In this episode, I explore how micro-habits. These are the tiny, repeated behaviours of leadership. They shape culture far more than any strategy document ever could. Drawing on the work of BJ Fogg, James Clear, and Charles Duhigg, I share how small, intentional actions create lasting shifts in trust, collaboration, and wellbeing across teams. Show References Clear, J...

Trust isn’t soft. It’s structural. In this episode, I explore how safe relationships create what I call the trust dividend, the compounding return that comes when people feel safe enough to speak up, share ideas, and grow. Drawing on the work of Amy Edmondson, Paul Zak, and Brené Brown, I share small leadership behaviours that turn trust from a feeling into a strategy. Show References Brown, B. (2...

Pressure is inevitable in leadership, but how we see it makes all the difference. In this episode, I explore the science of cognitive reappraisal. This is the practice of reframing how we interpret challenges. Drawing on research from James Gross, Richard Lazarus, and Susan Folkman, I share practical ways to turn stress into perspective, helping you and your team stay grounded, adaptive, and focus...

Every system has its quiet stars. The people who find better ways to work within the same rules and resources. In this episode, I explore the concept of positive deviance, the practice of finding and amplifying what’s already working. Drawing on research from Jerry and Monique Sternin, Richard Pascale, Kim Cameron, and Jane Dutton, I share how small, local solutions can spark big, lasting change....

When feedback arrives, what happens next tells the real story of your team’s culture. In this episode, I explore how psychological safety shapes learning, innovation, and trust. Drawing on the work of William Kahn, Amy Edmondson, Jane Dutton, and Google’s Project Aristotle, I share small leadership behaviours that make it safe for people to speak up, take risks, and grow together. Reference Detert...

Sometimes the smallest act can change everything. In this episode, I explore how simple moments of appreciation, kindness, and trust can ripple through a whole school community. Drawing on research from Jane Dutton, Barbara Fredrickson, Shelly Gable, Sonja Lyubomirsky, and Fred Luthans, I share how positive emotions spread, strengthen culture, and remind people that they matter. Reference Dutton,...

Sometimes the smallest gestures make the biggest difference. In this episode, I explore gratitude as a practical leadership tool and one that strengthens trust, motivation, and connection. Drawing on research from Robert Emmons, Sara Algoe, Adam Grant, Francesca Gino, and Fred Luthans, I share how noticing and naming what’s good can help leaders build cultures where people truly thrive. Reference...

Big goals can energise us, but they can also drain us. In this episode, I explore how hope can turn ambition into momentum. Drawing on Charles Snyder’s Hope Theory and the Broaden-and-Build research by Barbara Fredrickson, I share how to set goals that inspire, not exhaust, and how small, intentional shifts can reignite belief and progress in your team. Reference Snyder, C. R. (2002). Hope theory:...

What if the most powerful part of your leadership plan isn’t the strategy, but the language you use to share it? In this episode, I explore how optimism and clarity can transform the way teams think, feel, and act. You’ll learn how small shifts in language can expand possibility, strengthen connection, and set a hopeful tone for the year ahead. Reference Seligman, M. E. P. (1998). Learned optimism...

What if one simple word could shape the way you lead this year? In this episode, I share how choosing a single guiding word can shift your mindset from reactive to intentional and create meaningful change in how you show up as a leader. Tune in for a small, science-backed practice that builds big momentum.   Reference Gollwitzer, P. M., & Sheeran, P. (2006). Implementation intentions and goal...

Hi, I’m Kerrin Smith — a positive leadership and wellbeing science consultant who’s spent close to two decades exploring how to get the best from people. From leading wellbeing in schools to consulting with hundreds of schools across Australia, I’ve seen firsthand how small, intentional shifts in leadership can create extraordinary impact. Micro to Momentum: The Leadership Series is a podcast desi...