18. Why Creating Space Matters More Than Efficiency | Simon Dowling on Intentional Leadership
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 impactful leaders intentionally shape the emotional quality of the environments they create – not just to get things done efficiently, but to generate genuine energy and connection. And we get into the classic tension between the desire for control and the opportunity that exists when you let go.We explore:The power of "catalyst questions" that spark energy, thinking, and emotional responsesThe connection between creating space and making intentional choices as a leaderThe "three E's" framework: balancing Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Emotional quality in leadershipThe challenge of creating space within busyness rather than seeing it as something separateThe concept of "dual awareness" - being conscious of both your internal state and the environment simultaneouslyThe power of combining seemingly contradictory skills: pragmatic legal thinking with improvisational creativityPractical techniques for developing your "noticing muscle" and being more present as a leaderWhether you're leading a team meeting or a major transformation, this conversation will change how you think about the spaces you create and the choices you make within them.Simon Dowling is a leading thinker on creating and leading collaborative teams and workplaces. As a speaker, facilitator and educator, he is all about equipping leaders with the inspiration and know-how to build strong, highly engaged teams.Simon began his career as a commercial lawyer, and is also an experienced improviser, including having been a regular cast member on the hit Australian TV show Thank God You’re Here.He’s the author of ‘Work With Me’, an authoritative work on the power and pragmatics of collaboration, and his writing spreads further with his insightful posts on LinkedIn. He’s a man worth following and a man worth talking with.Resources referenced:A More Beautiful Question by Warren BergerDevelop Dual AwarenessThe Moment of ChoiceI Love the PresentYou can find Simon at:Website: https://www.simondowling.com.au/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simondowling-aus/Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/
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17. Choosing Not Reacting, The Power of Slow Thinking, and Life Beyond the Zeitgeist | Derek Sivers
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, and designing a life that truly reflects your choices rather than obligations.We discuss:The power of conscious choice: Derek reveals how recognising the difference between "have to" and "choose to" transformed his relationship with his successful business and ultimately led him to sell it.Slow thinking as a leadership advantage: Learn why pausing before responding leads to more original ideas, better decisions, and more meaningful connections with others.Breaking free from the zeitgeist: Discover how creating distance from mainstream thinking can become your competitive advantage in developing unique perspectives.The simplification technique: Derek explains how clarifying and simplifying complex problems often reveals the solution without needing outside expertise.About Derek SiversDerek is a writer, musician, programmer, and entrepreneur who founded CD Baby (which he sold in 2008 after growing it into the largest seller of independent music online). Now focused on writing and sharing unconventional wisdom, Derek approaches life with deliberate intentionality.In our conversation, we cover:Why Derek sees moving and changing perspective as essential to growth and learningHow to recognise when you're following "useful but not true" assumptions that limit your optionsThe transformative practice of journaling and how it clarifies thinkingWhy creating a life without an audience to impress can lead to more authentic choicesThe value of unhurried productivity in a world obsessed with speedHow asking better questions often matters more than finding answersYou can find Derek at https://sive.rs/Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/
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16. How to Take A Career Break and Return Stronger: An In-Depth Guide
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 career break, as well as ideas for how they can benefit organisations looking to retain and develop their talent.This episode is a conversation between three colleagues - Katie Hair, Jodi Willocks, Colm Kearney and me. We’ve all recently taken career breaks and gotten a huge amount from them. We discuss:(00:09) Introduction to the conversation on career breaks(06:36) The difference between a "sabbatical" vs. "career break"(10:36) Recognising when it's time for a change(15:34) How we frame our time away from work(20:51) Practical preparations: Financial planning and communication strategies(29:03) The value of creating space and renewal(38:18) Why career breaks should be normalised in the future of work(44:24) The "evaporation" phase: letting everything go to see what remains(49:18) How breaks accelerate personal growth and leadership development(54:24) Navigating the emotional journey of a career break(01:01:11) Practical tools for making the most of your break(01:07:04) How organisations could better support career breaks(01:16:02) Final advice for those considering a break(01:21:36) Conclusion and resources at digbyscott.com/careerbreakYou can learn more about my guests at: Katie Hair: https://www.katiehair.co.nz/ (and check out Episode 5 for a deep dive conversation with Katie)Jodi Willocks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-willocks-6b035446/Colm Kearney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colm-kearney/Sign up to the Career Break community https://digbyscott.com/careerbreakCheck out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/
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1:22:54
15. The Value of Mentorship, Embracing Nuance, and Finding Your Red Thread | Hazel Maclaurin
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 nuanced in how we relate to the complexity that change brings. Hazel Maclaurin shares her multifaceted journey as a musician, poet, digital marketing leader, and strategic HR content expert. She discusses the profound impact of mentorship on her career, the importance of storytelling in evoking change, and the necessity of nuance in today's world. Whether you're wrestling with complexity in your organisation or seeking to honor all dimensions of your life, this conversation offers both wisdom and a refreshingly honest take on what it means to lead with authenticity.We discuss:The growing importance of ‘adaptive capacity’The power of brilliant mentorsThe difference between running away from something vs. moving toward something and how that difference transforms our relationship with work and leadership.the value that her ‘squiggly career’ has brought her the importance of embracing nuance in decision-making. the power of storytelling and language in fostering understanding and connectionthe societal expectations placed on women, the impact of motherhood on professional identity, the significance of self-compassion in personal evolutionHazel Maclaurin is a strategic HR content expert with over a decade of high-level corporate experience, including roles as global content manager for enterprise at Korn Ferry and global head of content at the Project Management Institute. Her "squiggly career" path—spanning titles including (but not only) musician, poet, digital marketing specialist, and HR strategist—has given her ‘range’ - unique insights and understanding into the human condition and the power of connection through language.You can find Hazel at:Website: https://www.hazelmaclaurin.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hazel-maclaurin-b985a625/Blog: https://thiswomenswork.com/Substack: https://thiswomenswork.substack.comCheck out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/#subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/
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14. Natural Systems, Nervous Systems, and Navigating Change | Adam Cooper
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 and better navigate messy, complex situations.You’ll learn:How diving into the unknown fosters creativity and connectionWhy pre-meeting interactions shape the outcomes of gatheringsHow language influences our identity and decision-makingWhy navigating the unknown requires collective effort and presenceFour forms of listening that you need to masterHow nature serves as a powerful teacher for leadership.How systemic change begins with individual awareness and action.Why breath and presence are essential tools for leaders.Why savouring the world leads to deeper understanding and connection.Adam Cooper is one of those people who sees the world just a little bit differently. Adam grew up in Zimbabwe during a time of profound change, watching a society transform before he moved to New Zealand when he was 18. And that experience of seeing how quickly things can shift has shaped his unique lens on leadership and change.Adam's known for helping leaders and organisations see possibilities they didn't know existed. And he brings a fascinating blend of strategic thinking and embodied wisdom to his work. He's got this uncanny ability to spot patterns and shifts in society long before they become obvious to everyone else. Adam designs his own path and is a role model for how you can too. You can find Adam at:Website: https://www.creativeleadership.co.nz/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adcoops/Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/thoughts#subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/
There's no one way to lead. Yet we need to find a way. Our own way. And it can be hard to get right. As we find our way to lead it can be useful to listen to how others found theirs.
Each fortnight, I’ll share a rich, unhurried conversation with someone who’s leaned into and learned from the challenges of leadership, change, and life while staying true to themselves.
You'll get to experience me doing what I do best: asking the surface-piercing questions to help people see what they couldn't see before. Including you.
Learn more about my courses and get more resources at https://www.digbyscott.com/
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New Zealand