21. When Stepping Away Creates More Impact Than Stepping In
What if the most powerful thing you could do as a leader isn't to step in and save the day, but to step back and create space for others to shine? And what if your obsession with being the hero is actually preventing your team from reaching their potential?This episode looks at one of the most challenging transitions in leadership: moving from hero to host. You'll discover why the traditional heroic model of leadership, where you're the one with all the answers, solving every problem, is unsustainable and ultimately limits both your impact and your team's growth.I'll share practical insights on how stepping away strategically can enhance your leadership effectiveness, create self-sustaining systems, and build the kind of collaborative culture where everyone thrives. This isn't about becoming passive or disengaged. It's about becoming the kind of leader who creates ecosystems rather than dependencies.You'll learn:How to recognise when your heroic tendencies are holding your team backThe difference between stepping away and stepping out – and why timing mattersPractical strategies for creating psychological safety that allows others to step upHow to build sustainable systems that don't depend on your constant interventionWhy focusing on who you build is more important than what you buildSpecific tools and approaches to make the hero-to-host transition successfullyHow to celebrate team successes in ways that reinforce collaborative cultureThe art of identifying opportunities to step back without losing momentumWhether you're burning out from trying to be everything to everyone, or you're ready to create lasting impact beyond your direct involvement, this episode will reshape how you think about what leadership really means.Download the Plan on a Page mentioned in this episode here: https://www.digbyscott.com/planonapageCheck 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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20. Embracing Vulnerability, Navigating Rock Bottom, and Leading with Purpose | Sarah Manley
Have you ever found yourself caught in an endless cycle of meetings and tasks, wondering if your leadership is truly making a difference? What if the most powerful leadership tool isn't your strategic plan or your team's expertise, but your ability to recognise and act on the second chances life gives you?This episode explores how our personal challenges can become a driving force and focusing tool for positive change and authentic leadership. Sarah Manley's journey reveals the quiet power of listening to your gut, sitting with uncertainty, and moving beyond the "hero leader" mindset. What emerges is a perspective where leadership becomes less about personal achievement and more about creating space for something greater to emerge—where vulnerability becomes strength and purpose fuels resilience.Sarah Manley is the Chief Executive of MITEY New Zealand, delivered through the Sir John Kirwan Foundation. MITEY is a purpose-led organisation that provides evidence-based mental health education to primary and intermediate schools in New Zealand. Born in Chile and adopted by New Zealand and Australian parents at just five weeks old, Sarah's origin story has shaped her deep sense of purpose and commitment to making a difference. In this conversation, she shares:How transforming your relationship with meetings can create space for what truly mattersWhy journaling for just five minutes a day can shift your focus from what you do to who you want to beHow to discern the difference between your gut instinct and your "love filter" when making decisionsWhy sitting with tension and uncertainty can lead to more authentic leadership choicesHow personal rock-bottom moments can become catalysts for purpose-driven leadershipWhy the "pinchy point" of leadership loneliness requires intentional connection with othersHow to build relationships before you need them rather than waiting for crisisWhy recognising that "you cannot not impact" transforms how you show up as a leaderTimestamps(05:51) Listening to Your Gut(10:02) Journaling for Clarity(15:14) The Impact of Personal History(24:22) Transforming Adversity into Purpose(27:09) Rising from Rock Bottom(31:46) Building Support NetworksResources referenced:The Bigger Me ToolThe Network DiagnosticEpisode 15: Hazel Maclaurin on the Value of MentorshipYou can find Sarah at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-manley-nz/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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19. How Leadership Teams Evolve
Have you ever wondered what it takes to shift an entire leadership team's mindset and approach in today's fast-changing environment?This week, I share a case study from a recent 12-month engagement with a senior leadership team. It’s a story about moving from technical perfection to purposeful experimentation, and from control to empowerment.You'll discover the four essential ingredients that make lasting leadership change possible: How to create the right amount of heat for transformationThe support systems that sustain progressWhy deliberate experimentation beats perfectionismHow connecting change to a bigger purpose keeps momentum alive.Whether you're leading change in your team or looking to evolve your leadership approach, this real-world example offers practical insights you can apply immediately.Check out the blog version of this episode at digbyscott.com/thoughtsCheck 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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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/
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/
And follow me on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/
New Zealand