Future Fit Leadership

Welcome back, Season 2 of Future Fit Leadership in partnership with Future Leadership.  To start us off this season we talk to Ashleigh Morris, now like me you will probably be googling furiously at the end of this episode and certainly reviewing waste in a very different way.  Ashleigh Morris is one half of the powerhouse at Coreo. Founded by sisters Ashleigh and Jaine Morris, Coreo partners with leaders to re-imagine business models, supply chains, and material flows to help companies harness the power of circularity.  In this conversation we talk about the liner and circular economies, exactly what they represent, what the key issues are and why we need to move towards a more circular economy.  In Australia according to the latest National Waste Report – yes we actually have a report on how much waste we produce -  we generated an estimated 75.8 million tons (Mt) of waste and Over the 15-year period for which data is available, waste generation increased by 12.8 Million tons More than 40% of all waste material being disposed to landfill equates to about 880kg per person. The 2019 audit of Victoria's resource recovery sector found Melbourne is at risk of inadequate landfill by 2025. There are so many issues around this, consider the impact on the environment, the level of emissions, the increased extraction of raw materials and the ever increasing levels of consumption. So, how does moving to a circular economy better…. I hear you ask.  Listen to this podcast with Ashleigh and I know like me you will start to review how you can change to a more circular economy.  Here is a link to an awesome presentation with Ashleigh and Jaine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpx2Tx7EF_QSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While we are on a short break here is another favorite episode. We are back on the 26th of April How often have you clicked on an ad on social media or watched a marketing video online and thought to yourself either - what was that add about or I want that product. Like many of you during COVID there was a parcel being delivered to my door step just about every day. I took to online shopping like I had been doing it for years. It was interesting how quickly brands and consumers pivoted to digital marketing platforms. In fact many brands had their best years in regards to revenue during this time. Marketing your brand as a business or as an individual where you connect with the customer is mostly based on experience. I once worked with renown brand strategist Ross Smith who said a brand was an experience wrapped up in a promise.  Post COVID peoples expectations have changed on what they want to see and hear from brands.  To talk more about this and how marketing will continue to change I reached out to Lion CMO Anubha Sahasrabuddhe who brings a global view to this conversation having worked with Mars and Coco Cola to share with us what marketing in the post COVID world looks like  Join the FX community on https://community.futureexchange.global/ Head and Heart Leader Scale https://headheartleader.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While we are on a short break here is one of our favorite episodes Communication is one of the most critical skill sets you need as a leader. And it's not communicating by hiding behind a keyboard, or only when things are wrong. It is the constant and everyday conversations that have the most impact.  I don’t know how many of you watch the Apple series Ted Lasso, if you don’t you must! The show is about an American football coach who finds himself in the UK coaching a soccer team.  I started watching it, curious as it had great reviews. Now I am binging it and soaking in the leadership lessons.  Lasso is an extremely positive character, even when the entire football ground is calling him a wanker (you need to watch the show) he still manages to have a smile on his face.  Lasso is focused on the long term goals, however also very realistic about the talent of his players, he understands what they are insecure about and what their long term goals are. And because he does, he can provide feedback that supports them and ensure they believe in themselves and the team goals.  He is comfortable being open and vulnerable and an awesome communicator. He is curious, wanting to learn more and almost an annoyingly positive outlook on life.  Some of the lessons on this show are about, being curious rather than judgmental, asking better questions, being a goldfish – not dwelling on our mistakes rather learning from them and teamwork makes great work.  Communication from a CEO, Director, team leader, manager can make or break that team.  It is so much easier when everyone is in the office to have a conversation while making a coffee, walking past a desk, saying good morning, in  your office, you can eyeball them, watch their body language and assess if you have gotten through.  This is much harder virtually. If you come across as confusing, nervous and lack confidence, people will lose confidence in you and your ability to lead  Today, leaders need to be able to communicate clearly to build connection with the company values, goals, culture, performance - not just when they are face to face, but virtually as well.  You need to be present – “be where your feet are”, as Gilbert Enoka used to say. Listen actively. We all know how easy it is to get distracted virtually and keep everyone else connected to the conversation as well.  All this is not as easy as it sounds, especially today in a virtual world. In Episode 2 of Future Fit Leadership we talk to Maritza Barone about her 9 communication tips in a virtual world.  She takes us through the importance of preparation, listening, storytelling, breath, language, interaction, the pause, pace and tone and authenticity.  Combine this with the lessons from Ted Lasso and you will definitely fine tune your communication skills. click here to download your copy of the 9 communication tips https://www.guideyourlightnetwork.com/_files/ugd/5b253a_f32217d96f5048dd9b6e319ee6a25bc9.pdf  If you want more information on conscious conversations click here  https://www.consciousconversations.live/buy  to connect with Maritza Barone  www.maritzabarone.com & www.guideyourlightnetwork.com  Join the FX community on https://community.futureexchange.global/ Head and Heart Leader Scale https://headheartleader.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leadership and how we lead matters. Being a great leader is not easy at the best of times, add to this changing markets, supply chain issues, consumer confidence, rising interest rates, global uncertainty, the great resignation, changing employee needs, navigating this hybrid world of work, digital changes and the ongoing burnout from the pandemic. There is also a lot of “NEW” we need to deal with New way of working New way of communicating New Markets New attitudes towards how and where we do the work and we wonder why sometimes we fall into that leadership slump…Leadership and how we lead has been redefined and we cannot reverse it. Skills such as empathy, courage, vulnerability, resilience, communication and mindfulness and key skills we look for in leaders. In this podcast we talk to Michelle Gibbings about how we get better at these softer skill sets such as empathy, vulnerability and being courageous. Michelle is a workplace expert, works with forward thinking leaders, executive teams and large scale organisations embrace the unknown, deepen their decision making and build their courage, conviction and capabilityShe has written three books and was one of the original co-hort of coaches who went to San Antonio, Texas and spent time with Brene Brown. Join the FX community on https://community.futureexchange.global/Head and Heart Leader Scale https://headheartleader.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retention and Engagement is a priority for leaders globally, most of this is driven by what the recent PWC report on “what workers want” has found and that is 38% of Australian workers are looking for a new job and the numbers could get higher. It is even more imperative now than ever to ensure that employers invest and are very clear on their employee engagement tool kit that will build loyalty, attract and retain talent. The next time you are sitting in a meeting take a look around, how many of the people around you are really not happy in their role, in the business, engaged in the culture, vision or values Are they coming into work excited  or are they simply turning up, doing what they need to do and going home. As leaders we need to ensure that we have created environments that people feel safe to share their issues, otherwise what often happens is that they will start looking for jobs and by the time they come to you it is too late. Join the FX community on https://community.futureexchange.global/ Head and Heart Leader Scale https://headheartleader.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How we lead organisations is changing, our people expect a modern day informal leader which is very different to what we have been used to. Leading with your head and heart came to the forefront during COVID and now in this post COVID world it is expected that this is how we will lead. In her book Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership Dr Kirstin Ferguson AM writes that leadership is simply a series of moments and every moment gives you the opportunity to leave a positive legacy for those you lead Therefore we are all leaders and I love this paradigm shift - we no longer need to have a title to be seen as the leader. Authentic leadership is the currency that is in play today, those leaders who have a growth mindset, are self aware and have an informal informal style are being seen as the modern leaders. A modern leader doesn’t feel they need to have all the answers, they are not perfect, they make mistakes and they know when they need to lead with their hearts and when to lead with their heads. In her book Ferguson writes about how today we seek leaders who understand their limitations, have the strength to be vulnerable, they are humble, courageous, curious, value feedback and know that they will always be working on how to be the best leader they possibly can. Join the FX community on https://community.futureexchange.global/ Head and Heart Leader Scale https://headheartleader.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marcele is an organisation psychologist, taking a scientific lens as well as a practical and pragmatic focus on leadership capability .  In this podcast we talk about  leading teams in a hybrid world why a capability first approach is important when selecting leaders how to use the future capability framework  how to future proof your organisation  leadership capability sets required to take an organisation into the future  importance of telling the story of your organisational performance  head and heart leadership  building purposeful organisations diversity and inclusion  how childhood of leaders impact how they lead   So many awesome takeaways in this podcast. To join the Future Exchange community and connect with other executives link to https://community.futureexchange.global/ Notes to Marcele's PHD can be downloaded via this link: https://clasolutions.global/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Dr-Marcele-De-Sanctis-Thesis-Review-Leaders-and-Followers.pdfSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IWD is not a day that empowers me, rather reminds me of how little we have progressed. The theme for 2023 is #embraceequity. I see equity not as something we need to embrace as a nice to have, but as a fundamental human right. We shouldn’t have to fight for equity, or justify it, it should be a given. Equity is about the financial, emotional, and physical safety of women. Equity is over 280 years away. We need to accelerate far beyond equity and into full empowerment of women. Because when we lead with diversity, everybody, every ecosystem and every form or life benefits. As you head off to your IWD events today, eat an IWD cupcake or two, take some time to listen to my views and thoughts on this day and feel free to share back.  Join the future exchange community on https://community.futureexchange.global/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are excited to announce our partnership with Future Leadership. Our podcast will now sit in their Future Exchange Community where as leaders, CEO's, Directors and executives you can access content, events, live streams and connect with your peers. To join the community click on the following link, membership is free.  https://community.futureexchange.global/signup/aMpzvEsgZRpG I had a quick catchup with Michelle to talk about the three areas of their business, building, buying and borrowing talent, why the capability lens when recruiting for leaders is important and how the Future Exchange Platform is supporting the Executive Community   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leaders globally have been facing a shift and change in what our people want in a way that has never happened before. Traditional leadership styles are no longer feasible. We are leading in an era of declining trust, rise in fake news and the alternative view. It is also an ever evolving landscape of employee, client and digital expectations. I remember sitting at a conference a few years ago where we VUCA was the buzz word. VUCA stands for  volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous, well today it is VUCA at an accelerated pace. How does a future fit leader manage in this accelerated pace of change we are experiencing. First, we have unlearn some of how we lead in the past. And the best example of that is embracing this hybrid world of work. How, where and when work was done has changed and it will never go back. Leaders need to invest in learning, great leaders are not born and leadership is a journey of life long learning.   American social philosopher Eric Hoffer said it best when he wrote, “In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists”. In this podcast I chat with Megan Jaffe who has been the number 1 Ray White office in New Zealand for over 7 years. She leads a team who simply love working with her.  To find out more enjoy my conversation with this Future Fit Leader See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.