The Fulfilled Leader with Jean Balfour

How do we navigate change in a way that's good for people? Tune in to the latest episode of Making Sense of Work as Uen-Li, Downstream Chief of Staff at Shell, reveals creative approaches for coping with uncertainty within large organisations. Jean and Uen-Li discuss: Strategies for leading through changeThe intersection of creativity and working in an engineering companyGaining global recognition while prioritising motherhoodMeet Uen-LiUen-Li, currently Head, Downstream Ultimate Potential and Business Advisor to Downstream Director, is a Downstream veteran, having worked across functions such as Operations, Pricing, Sales, Strategy, M&A, Procurement and Supply Chain within the Fuels and Lubricants businesses in Shell since 2002. She thrives in making sense of a messy world and is now hard at work driving Shell’s Downstream Business to achieve its Ultimate Potential. It is an exciting transformation journey that requires us to know our North Star whilst steadily closing our knowing-doing gap, using digital, data and leadership discipline.Externally, she is a faculty associated with LinHart Group for the Leadership Influence curriculum at NUS Business School and Nanyang Technological University, and the Leadership Influence for Early Executives program. Most recently she is Senior Advisor to NUS Business School’s Enterprise Leadership for Transformation program, coaching and mentoring a group of Small and Medium Enterprises on their growth and reinvention plans.Book recommendation: Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling: https://www.amazon.com/Storyworthy-Engage-Persuade-through-Storytelling/dp/1608685489 Connect with Uen-Li Chia here: linkedin.com/in/uen-li-chia-59a254 Instagram: @uenlinotes Sign up to my weekly newsletter. Book a free strategy call: https://calendly.com/jean-balfour/30min Learn more about my work: https://jeanbalfour.com/ For more information on the podcast, show notes and journaling prompts visit my substack blog: https://jeanbalfour.substack.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/

Have you noticed yourself feeling a bit afraid recently or perhaps worrying more or generally being really affected by the doom and gloom news that we are surrounded by in our media?In this episode of making sense of work, Jean shares ideas for how we can overcome the paralysis that fear brings and move towards courage and calm. You can find the 4-fold breathing meditation with Danielle Van de Velde here:https://insig.ht/axVvl4l6xzbConnect with Jean Balfour here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jean.balfour/ Sign up to my weekly newsletter. Book a free strategy call: https://calendly.com/jean-balfour/30min Learn more about my work: https://jeanbalfour.com/ For more information on the podcast, show notes and journaling prompts visit my substack blog: https://jeanbalfour.substack.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/

How well do you perform under pressure? Join Mylène Baxter, executive coach and equestrian psychologist in this latest episode of Making Sense of Work. She shares psychological commonalities between competitive horseback riding and leadership in the workplace and also the factors that affect one’s confidence, motivation, and capacity to perform effectively when confronted with pressure.  Jean and Mylène discuss: The parallels between equestrian psychology and leadership How mindset affects our performance at the moment and what we can do about itWhat is required of leaders to perform under pressure.Meet Mylène Baxter Mylène Baxter is an executive coach, talent and Leadership Consultant and Equestrian Psychologist–as well as being of the faculty member of Bailey Balfour. Previously, she was the Director of Talent Development and Communications reporting to the CEO, and with 25 years experience working at a senior level in global commercial organisations. Mylène Baxter understands the challenges faced by leaders and senior teams. Her interest is in helping leaders change their own beliefs and behaviours to influence change in their teams and the wider organisation. Mylene’s coaching philosophy is that everyone is resourceful and has the answers within themselves–these answers may not be clear at first, but with help and a desire to change, they soon emerge.Book recommendation: Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Dr. Kristin Neff: https://www.amazon.com/Self-Compassion-Proven-Power-Being-Yourself/dp/0061733520Connect with Mylène Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myl%C3%A8ne-baxter-162301a/Website: https://www.mylenebaxter.com/Connect with Jean Balfour here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jean.balfour/ Sign up to my weekly newsletter. Book a free strategy call: https://calendly.com/jean-balfour/30min Learn more about my work: https://jeanbalfour.com/ For more information on the podcast, show notes and journaling prompts visit my substack blog: https://jeanbalfour.substack.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/

You are not alone if you are struggling with workplace-related anxiety and stress.In this episode, Nick Jonsson, author of "Executive Loneliness: The 5 Pathways To Overcoming Isolation, Stress, Anxiety, and Depression," discusses the widespread issue of workplace-driven anxiety and stress. He shares his personal experience with anxiety and addiction and advocates for health strategies to alleviate these challenges, which can affect individuals at any level from junior staff to senior leaders.Jean and Nick discuss: Overcoming layoffs and the profound impact of it Difference in how men and women approach executive loneliness The importance of vulnerabilityThe five steps of recovery Meet Nick Nick is the co-founder and Managing Director of one of Asia’s premiere networking organizations, Executives’ Global Network (EGN) Singapore, Malaysia & Indonesia — EGN is a caring peer group network providing hundreds of executives and business owners a safe haven to share their challenges, receive support, and learn from each other.Nick is enthusiastic about supporting his local community. He is a volunteer and fundraiser for the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), a suicide hotline in Singapore. He also does frequent community service for a support group for problem drinkers. Now in recovery himself in his third year, he is also an International Coaching Federation (ICF) coach, who loves to work with executives to help them with their career and lifestyle choices.Book recommendation: Digital Darwinism: Survival of the Fittest in the Age of Business Disruption: Link: https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Darwinism-Survival-Business-Disruption/dp/0749482281Connect with Nick Jonsson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-jonsson/Website - https://egnpeernetwork.com/Check out his book on award winning book - Executive Loneliness: The 5 Pathways to Overcoming Isolation, Stress, Anxiety & Depression in the Modern Business World. Connect with Jean Balfour here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/Instagram - @jean.balfour Sign up to my weekly newsletter. Book a free strategy call: https://calendly.com/jean-balfour/30min Learn more about my work: https://jeanbalfour.com/ For more information on the podcast, show notes and journaling prompts visit my substack blog: https://jeanbalfour.substack.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/

Networking - Some people go “bring it on” but many people shrink and hope the whole concept goes away.  However, networking is an important aspect of personal and professional growth if we approach it the right way. When we view networking as a way to serve others, rather than focusing solely on ourselves, it becomes more meaningful. True networking is not based on greed but on generosity. Real networking is about finding ways to make other people more successful.  In this new episode of Making Sense of Work, Jean Balfour shares her own networking experiences and offers advice for those who may feel uncertain about networking. She highlights the benefits that can arise from this practice.Reading recommendations: Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi Connect with Jean Balfour on LinkedIn and Instagram @Jean.balfour Sign up to my weekly newsletter. Book a free strategy call: https://calendly.com/jean-balfour/30min Learn more about my work: https://jeanbalfour.com/ For more information on the podcast, show notes and journaling prompts visit my substack blog: https://jeanbalfour.substack.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/

In this discussion, Carole Lewis, an Executive Communications Coach with over 25 years of experience, shares her transformative journey in coaching. She explores the ripple effect of coaching, emphasizing how positive changes in individuals can uplift entire teams. Carole dives into ontological coaching, revealing how emotions and language shape leadership. She also candidly discusses overcoming imposter syndrome and the importance of self-awareness for effective leadership. Tune in for insightful tips on building confidence and embracing individuality in the coaching world!

When do you get your best work done? There are some who argue that, in order to succeed in today's economy, we must possess the ability to produce elite level work quickly and efficiently. Others suggest that it's important to recognize when we're feeling overwhelmed and to prioritize mindful work during designated periods.In this particular episode, Jean Balfour offers her perspective on various time management books and shares how she manages to accomplish meaningful work during her concentrated periods.Check out Jean's reading recommendations Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention by  Johann Hari  https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Focus-Attention-Think-Deeply/dp/0593138511Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortalhttps://www.amazon.com/Four-Thousand-Weeks-Management-Mortals/dp/0374159122Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones: https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299 Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World: https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/dp/1455586692You can also join in conversation and share you thoughts over on Jean's Linkedin Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jean.balfour/Connect with Jean at: https://jeanbalfour.com/ Sign up to my weekly newsletter. Book a free strategy call: https://calendly.com/jean-balfour/30min Learn more about my work: https://jeanbalfour.com/ For more information on the podcast, show notes and journaling prompts visit my substack blog: https://jeanbalfour.substack.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/

What is the true meaning of "reinvent"? How can we shift our perspective to view career displacement as a positive opportunity? What steps can we take to cultivate fulfilling careers?Join Adeline Tiah, Business Executive, Leadership & REINVENT Coach, Author, and Lecturer in the latest episode of Making Sense of work.Jean and Adeline discuss: When do we need to take risks in our careers How can we learn to embrace ambiguity?Why does vulnerability matter?Meet Adeline TiahAdeline Tiah is an accomplished corporate leader with more than 20 years’ of experience across top banks, telco, and startups. She is passionate about building brands and high-performance teams. She has worked for both corporate as well as startups in which she helped grow the business from 0 to 1, and scale from 10 to 100. Her career journey and experience from coaching over 250 clients have provided insights into why we need to embrace a permanent reinvention mindset to thrive in an uncertain world. Her latest book “REINVENT 4.0 – The Keys to Unlock Success and Thrive in Uncertainty” is inspired by her experience. The key takeaway from her book is to invest in your next trajectory while you are still growing. Adeline is an adjunct lecturer at the School of Business at a Singapore University, she partners with high-growth startups to help them develop their brand and Go-to-Market strategies. She is also an ICF-certified Leadership and REINVENT coach, helping individuals and teams develop a winning mindset to take on the Future of Work. Connect with Adeline Tiah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adeline-tiah/Check out her book Reinvent 4.0: reinvent.adelinetiah.comConnect with Jean Balfour here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jean.balfour/Check out Adeline’s reading recommendations Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear: https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299The 100-Year Life: https://www.amazon.com/100-Year-Life-Living-Working-Longevity/dp/1543624634 Sign up to my weekly newsletter. Book a free strategy call: https://calendly.com/jean-balfour/30min Learn more about my work: https://jeanbalfour.com/ For more information on the podcast, show notes and journaling prompts visit my substack blog: https://jeanbalfour.substack.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/

Resilience isn't just about persevering until we reach our breaking point. Sometimes, it's about taking a break and incorporating enjoyable activities, then it can be the perfect way to enhance our resilience.Join Imogen Maresch, speaker, coach, and faculty member of Bailey Balfour's Certification programme in the latest episode of Making Sense of work. Jean and Imogen discuss: What does resilience meanHow does play connect to resilienceUsing play at work and using play at coachingHow to encourage play at work and tap into it for our resilienceMeet ImogenWith a background in drama, 15+ years’ experience in learning and development, and a track record of high-profile leadership roles in both the private and public sectors, Imogen brings a unique perspective to the world of work. She holds an MBA from the University of Leicester and, through the pandemic, gained her Masters in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology from the University of East London. Her research was exploring how playing an innovative online board game she developed supported people in lockdown to boost resilience. It was recently published in a leading international academic journal. We will hear more about this in the podcast. Imogen lives in London where she volunteers as a coach for several charities and has a long-standing reputation for hosting legendary games nights.Connect with Imogen: http://linkedin.com/in/imogen-mareschWebsite: www.thepresenceofmindco.comEmail:  imogen@presenceofmind.ukCheck out her research article on "Playing for Resilience in a Pandemic", on International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology: https://rdcu.be/cTCClConnect with Jean Balfour here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jean.balfour/ Sign up to my weekly newsletter. Book a free strategy call: https://calendly.com/jean-balfour/30min Learn more about my work: https://jeanbalfour.com/ For more information on the podcast, show notes and journaling prompts visit my substack blog: https://jeanbalfour.substack.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/

Leading a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a significant challenge for many leaders. By prioritizing relationships and creating a supportive workplace culture, Mairead McCormick has demonstrated her commitment to effective leadership during these challenging times. Join Mairead McCormick, the CEO of Kent Community Health, NHS in the latest episode of Making Sense of work. Jean and Mairead discuss: Mairead's relational leadership during the pandemic crisisWhat is good relational leadership and how it looks like The impact of emergency situations on relational leadershipThe relationship between performance management and a relational approachThe connection between coaching and a relational leadership approach?Meet Mairead McCormickMairead is the Chief Executive Officer of Kent Community Health, part of the UK national Health service. It is an organisation spanning Kent, parts of Essex, and South London in England and covering a population of 2 million with a workforce of 5000 nurses, doctors, allied health professionals community care. Mairead has been in the NHS for 35 years including five years as a chief operating officer and deputy chief executive at Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.She has a national reputation for her work in emergency care, working with NHS England in the Emergency Care Intensive Support Team carrying out a whole system review. Book recommendation: Intelligent Kindness: Reforming the Culture of Healthcare: https://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Kindness-Reforming-Culture-Healthcare/dp/1908020040Connect with Mairead here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mairead-mccormick-209a4680/Connect with Jean Balfour here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jean.balfour/ Sign up to my weekly newsletter. Book a free strategy call: https://calendly.com/jean-balfour/30min Learn more about my work: https://jeanbalfour.com/ For more information on the podcast, show notes and journaling prompts visit my substack blog: https://jeanbalfour.substack.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanbalfour/