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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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/
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13. Breaking Out of Boxes, Constructive Challenge, and the Gift of Heritage | CO2 Rob Pa'o
How willing are you to let your ideas be destroyed? That's a scary concept for many people because we can equate good ideas with being worthy. But what if your worth comes from being a learner and not perfect?In this messy and complex world where the old structures and systems of society and work are found wanting, we need to evolve and adopt new ideas fast. If you want to level up how you lead change, innovation, and learning, this episode will teach you: How to create an environment of constructive challenge that enables fresh perspectives and stronger relationshipsWhy Rob believes collaboration trumps competition when problem-solving every timeThe importance of understanding the purpose behind traditionsWhy critical thinking should focus on accuracy rather than being rightThe way information is shared impacts its receptionThe discipline of patience when planting seeds of wisdomCO2 Rob Pa’o exemplifies an approach to life and leadership that is about blending curiosity, humility, and integrity into a potent package with plenty of practical wisdom for all of us.Rob’s heritage is Samoan. He’s a first-generation immigrant to New Zealand and was brought up in the predominantly white city of Christchurch. Growing up in this environment, as someone who didn’t necessarily look like most other people there, strongly shaped how Rob made sense of who he is.When Rob and I first met a few years ago, he struck me as someone with a strong sense of who he is, yet with a deep curiosity to keep learning and growing. Rob makes you feel seen, heard, and invited to be bigger. It’s a powerful experience!You can find Rob on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/co2-robert-pa-o-417b70223/Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/thoughts#subscribe Follow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/
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12. Systems Thinking, The Power of Imagination, and Generational Wisdom | Dr. Richard Hodge
Are you trying to make lasting change happen, but you feel like you’re banging your head against a wall of short-term dramas and siloed thinking?This episode will help you to rise above the fray and hone in on how to be valuable, stay relevant, and play the longer game. Dr. Richard Hodge is one of Australasia’s preeminent thought-leaders in systems thinking. He’s been in the workforce since 1970, with wide experience in science, engineering, public sector policy and the corporate world. Richard was one of the founding fathers of a major strategy business in Canberra, growing it to 80 staff and >$20M in revenue in 6 years. In 2007, he moved from advising GMs to being one in a global engineering business until he was sacked in 2010, one week after completing his PhD (part time). Since then, Richard has established his own practice helping leaders engage - not manage – complexity with the help of systems sciences.Together, Richard and I dig deep into: Why understanding value is crucial for effective leadership and decision-makingHow relevance is determined by how well we align our actions with our valuesHow the long tail of consequences highlights the impact of our actions over timeWhy community engagement is essential for sustainable changeThe importance of efficiency not overshadowing ethics in organisational practicesHow generational wisdom plays a crucial role in systems thinkingWhy imagination is essential for envisioning changeHow making small, incremental steps can lead to significant transformationHow defining 'enough' is vital for personal equilibrium.Why connection and relationships are at the heart of effective leadership.If you're looking for ways to have a more lasting and sustainable impact in your work and life, this episode will give you lasting pearls of wisdom.Time Stamps:(00:00) - Imagining Better Leadership Through Systems Thinking(03:05) - The Dragonfly: A Metaphor for Leadership(08:09) - Understanding Value, Relevance, and Long-Term Impact(14:21) - The Role of Community in Effective Leadership(21:38) - The Five E's of Leadership: Beyond Efficiency(24:51) - Personal Stories Shaping Systems Thinking(30:41) - Challenges in Implementing Systems Thinking in Organisations(33:09) - Systems Thinking: The Spirit of Adventure(35:37) - Imagination and Possibility Thinking in Leadership(38:57) - The Long Game: Transformational Change in Organisations(44:26) - Personal Growth: Applying Systems Thinking to Individual Development(58:58) - Defining Enough: Values and Life ChoicesYou can find Richard at:Website: https://www.drrichardhodge.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrichardhodge/Article: Play the Long Game https://www.digbyscott.com/thoughts/play-the-long-gameCheck 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/
And follow me on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/
New Zealand