The Dynamic Leader Podcast

In this conversation Shelley and Nikki explore what fun means to each of them and how important it is to find your own version. Fun is so important for mental health and it makes work so much more enjoyable for everyone when you have it. They talk about being successful AND not needing to work ridiculously long hours…and the challenges that come with finding the right balance. What they both agree...

Happy International Women’s Day! In this conversation Shelley speaks with her sisters about women, men, life journeys, and the need for equity to create a true balance. They talk about the importance of intentionally over-investing in women who have very different starting points and journeys. Rather than approaching others with judgement or comparison they talk about the need for curiosity, kindn...

Michelle joins Shelley again to talk about the skills of presenting. Whether you be a leader or an individual contributor, your ability to engage and influence your audience is important. Michelle shares how developing the art of communicating your point in a clear and interesting way for your audience is foundational to presenting to anyone, anytime and a skill you continue to build on over time....

Shelley and Kristy talk about the technology tipping point where we've started to question the digital dependencies created and are now considering whether they're helping or hindering us. Kristy shares how many of us have become slaves to our screens, being highly distractable and sometimes completely consumed. It’s time to take back the control of our time and attention and use technology in hea...

In this episode Shelley speaks with Jess about workplace bullying, her personal experience and what it took for her to move forward. She shares what happens when nothing is done and what it takes to become an upstander and take action against harassing and intimidating behaviour. Every employee has the right to feel safe at work and this conversation highlights what can happen when nothing is done...

Creating capacity and the space to choose the best ways to work and live is what Shelley and Donna speak about in this conversation. They talk about the constant squeeze to make the most out of every minute of your day and the benefits of taking time to respond to a situation (rather than react) and use reflection as a way of learning. Donna shares that the more simple you make things the greater...

In this episode Sharon and Shelley talk about power in a positive light and how it can be used to bring out the strengths of all and keep your team engaged and inspired. Sharon shares how showing up from a place of clarity, agency and sovereignty make situations better and act as a force for good. We all have situations in our life where we feel powerless and at the mercy of others. Hear how we ca...

In this episode Shelley and Dominic speak about the fundamentals of people leadership. Dominic shares his views on trust and the impact is has to effective change. He quotes that “trust arrives on foot but leaves on horseback” in that it takes focus and attention to nurture and maintain. They talk about the importance of reflection and how it should be built into your timetable as a key priority t...

This is the first episode of season four and the first dynamic leader conversation for 2023! In this conversation Shelley speaks with Tim Sacklin about his transition from hospitality to accounting in his 40's. He shares the challenges, both financial and mental, that came with the move, where he is now and how happy he is that he made the decision to do it. He's an inspiration for anyone feeling...

In this episode Shelley and Carolyn celebrate the new kind of normal year we’ve had. We talk about how many leaders are feeling exhausted as we end the year and Carolyn shares strategies about how we can manage our energy levels differently in 2023. This is a great conversation to get you thinking about how you want to show up, both personally and professionally in the year ahead. Connect with Car...

In this episode Shelley speaks with Brad about what a good onboarding strategy looks like and what can happen in teams and organisations when it’s done well. They talk about the consequences of a poor, or worse, no onboarding process, and the challenges that come with a function that doesn’t really have any measurable accountability. They also explore how organisational values are important for le...

In this episode Shelley speaks with Tracey about emotional intelligence and how essential it is to leadership. It’s about appreciating what goes on in our head just as much as what goes on in our heart and taking the time to reflect and learn with others. Tracey shares that professional intimacy is about building relationships that see the whole person and puts humanness over worthiness. A fabulou...

In this episode Shelley speaks with Jamie about how telling stories is an essential skill for leaders. He calls stories “the language of the mind” and shares how they allow people to make meaning and help shape beliefs. With stories a leader can communicate with impact, influence other people and inspire them to follow. Jamie also shares a that the first time you tell a story, it’s going to be rub...

In this episode Narelle Burke sits in the host seat and interviews Shelley on the state of leadership across the globe 18 months on from the normalising of the pandemic. They talk about having a growth mindset and how we’re never really done learning. Shelley shares how to build grit and the benefits of being curious and aware of what might be coming in the future. A very interesting conversation...

In this episode Shelley learns about the importance of part-timers managing their own expectations around what can be achieved in the time they’ve got. Belinda’s insights for transitioning into a part-time role seem so simple and make so much sense yet too often we fail to consider them. Belinda asks what the personal trade-off is when we’re saying yes to more work instead of prioritising the reas...

In this episode Shelley speaks with Kathy, a coaching veteran and founder of FireUp Coaching, about how she started her business back in the 90’s. Kath shares how coaching has evolved over the past three decades and how it’s now being used as a core mode of effectively leading people. If you’re new to the coaching space, this is an enlightening conversation. Connect with Kathy: https://www.linkedi...

In this episode Shelley and Mel share views on what leaders should be able to talk about with their people. While appreciating “everyone has their stuff”, Mel says that speaking about topics like menopause, for example, can open the conversation up other things that are going on. It is through connecting via conversation that helps leaders to understand what might be having an impact on performanc...

In this conversation Shelley and Gordon talk about renewing our childhood love of movement, whether that be exercise, play or something in between. They talk about the association many people have to the word “exercise”, and even while knowing it’s good for us, will find reasons not to do it. Gordon offers a really nice reframe to remaining active and being really intentional about movement - part...

In this conversation Shelley and Michelle talk about persuasion, what it is, what is does and how it differs from influence and manipulation. Michelle shares how persuasion allows you to get more of what you want in life without any detriment to others - where it’s a win win scenario for everyone. Learn the difference between passive, aggressive and assertive approaches and what this looks like fo...

In this conversation Shelley speaks with Narelle and Kristy on the benefits of leaders engaging with people at all levels of their organisation to hear their ideas - you just never know where you’ll find gold. Good ideas don’t just come from the most experienced or most knowledgeable - they can come from anyone. They talk about the importance of making time to have conversations and being aware of...

Human beings are wired to enjoy growth! In this conversation Shelley and Rowena discuss that the most powerful growth often comes through challenge and how we deal with it. Rowena shares her views on the growth zone that straddles safety and challenge and recognising which zone you go to when you are growing. She shares her perspective on the tension between past and future - navigating what’s rig...

In this conversation Shelley speaks with Ron Carucci, co-founder and managing partner at Navalent, about the opportunities that exist where leaders are open, honest and transparent and the impacts to moral security when they’re not. Ron shares the importance of embodying your intentions and minimising the say/do gap. He believes that “if there’s not someone coming into your office multiple times a...

One of Shelley’s favourite topics is explored with organisational psychologist and coach, Joe Hart. In this conversation Joe shares that perspective taking, the ability to reframe and take a different look at something, is one of the most powerful tools in anyone’s toolkit. We should start the perspectives journey off by understanding ourselves, to the extent we can clearly articulate what we want...

In this conversation Shelley asks Richard, Founder and CEO of Body Talk, about starting his journey on the communication path in a Tibetan monastery teaching English to monks. He appreciates the value of storytelling and incorporates them into the work he does with leaders and teams saying “it’s the facts that tell but it’s the stories that sell”. Richard also shares the power of congruency in com...

In this conversation Shelley and Mel talk about the impacts of never ending screen time in the workplace with many leaders going from meeting to meeting without a break. Mel shares insight into taking control of your calendar and managing expectations about working and resting effectively. She talks about the contrast of speeding up to get things done and slowing down to connect with people. It’s...