Paradox Thinking: The Ultimate Leadership Hack in Times of Uncertainty with Wendy Smith
In this transformative episode of We Are Human Leaders, we sat down in Sydney with Wendy Smith—renowned expert on paradox and co-author of Both/And Thinking—to explore how shifting from either/or decision-making to both/and thinking can unlock deeper clarity, resilience, and creativity in leadership and life.Wendy walks us through the concept of paradox: the ongoing, often uncomfortable tensions between seemingly opposing forces (such as stability and change, profit and purpose, or control and flexibility). She shares how these tensions aren't problems to be solved, but dynamics to be navigated, and how ancient wisdom, modern psychology, and business innovation all point to the transformative power of holding space for complexity.In this conversation, hosts Alexis Zahner and Sally Clarke asked Wendy to unpack:The difference between tensions, dilemmas, and paradoxesWhy binary thinking is limiting—and often harmfulHow leaders and teams can cultivate a paradox mindsetPractical strategies like the ABCD framework for both/and navigationReal-world case studies from IBM, Unilever, and PatagoniaThe link between paradox thinking and ancient Eastern and Indigenous philosophiesThis is a conversation that challenges your assumptions and offers tools to lead with greater compassion, nuance, and confidence, especially in times of uncertainty.Ready to reframe your next challenge not as a dilemma—but as an opportunity? Tune in now, and access the show notes at: www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/paradox-thinking-wendy-smith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Brain Snack: How to Turn Anxiety into a Superpower
Welcome to Brain Snacks: bite sized learning moments from We Are Human Leaders.In today’s brain snack, Morra Aarons Mele shares with us How to Turn Your Anxiety into a Superpower.For more, check out the full conversation with Morra right here https://www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/rethinkinganxietyFor now, enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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7:59
Feeling Invisible? The Game Changing Impact of Mattering at Work with Zach Mercurio
In this incredible episode we’re discussing The Power of Mattering with Zach Mercurio. We admire Zach’s work, so much so he’s officially our first repeat guest on We Are Human Leaders! His poignant new book The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance is arguably one of the most needed in the world right now!In this conversation Zach shares with us the damning data on the state of work–despite the billions of dollars of investment made in employee engagement, retention, wellbeing, belonging, you name it–we’re more disengaged and unhappy than ever before. Why? Well because despite it all, we still don’t feel like we truly matter. And this is an innate human need that can’t be overlooked.Zach shares that “honing the skills to create a culture of significance is at the heart of revitalizing the health of our workplaces and workers.” We couldn’t agree more. Mattering is much more than a means to create productivity and engagement at work. It’s a way of making sure everyone knows that they are innately needed, unique and what they do matters to others. Mattering is a fundamental human needs for all of us, and for that reason alone should be motivation to prioritise it.Learn more about Zach Mercurio, and find his latest book here:Find Zach Mercurio on LinkedIn.Get your copy of The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance from Harvard Business Review Press here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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39:33
Brain Snack: How to Use Dissent Effectively
Welcome to Brain Snacks: bite sized learning moments from We Are Human Leaders.In today’s brain snack, Todd Kashdan shares with us the difference between productive and destructive disagreement, and how the labels we place on ourselves can stop us from truly understanding the perspectives of others.For more, check out the full conversation with Todd Kashdan right here https://www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/dissent-and-defy-todd-kashdanFor now, enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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How Burnout Wrecks Productivity – And How To Fix it with Dr John Chan
Burnout is a red hot topic right now and for good reason.The State of Workplace Burnout Report 2025 shows that 35% of us globally are experiencing burnout. In this episode my usual co-host Sally Clarke dons her researcher’s hat alongside Dr. John Chan as Co-Authors of the State of Workplace Burnout Report 2025. We discuss their very important research from the report. Now in its fifth year, it shines a very bright light on how outdated productivity metrics and expectations are keeping us stuck in burnout with lower productivity.In this conversation, I've asked Sally and John the hard questions:What impact does burnout have on our productivity?What are we getting so wrong about productivity and burnout?Despite the billions of dollars invested globally in wellbeing and burnout, these still such pervasive issues. Sally and John offer a comprehensive evidence backed set of answers to these questions, and they offer critical advice for leaders listening to fundamentally shift how we work to overcome them.SPOILER ALERT: Solving burnout is well within your control as a leader. This conversation is insightful and practical and exactly what all leaders need to hear right now. Learn more, and find links to the report at www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/burnout-productivity-john-chan-sally-clarke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to We Are Human Leaders - big conversations around human-centred leadership at work and beyond. This is a story about you, as a Human, and a Leader. It doesn’t matter your industry, your geography, the products you sell or the services that you offer. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a corporation, or a small business, it doesn’t matter your profit margins or your official job title. Our common denominator is the same, we are humans first and leaders second. This is a call to everyone who prioritizes learning and growth to truly put Humans first in business. Human Leaders is changing how we work to ensure business and humans can thrive through work. Human Leaders create workplaces where every single person feels seen, their contributions valued and their voice heard. We’re mobilizing the global leadership community to reimagine what work looks like and we’re glad you’re on this journey with us. Find out more at www.wearehumanleaders.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
New Zealand