DECODING AQ - Adaptability For The Future Of Work With Ross Thornley

Dr. Benjamin Hardy is an organizational psychologist, an esteemed author, and a renowned speaker. Host Ross Thornley talks with Dr. Hardy talks about his new book, "Personality Isn’t Permanent", why it’s important to spend time thinking about thinking, and some of the keys of adaptability. The pair also discuss psychological flexibility being essential in order to jump from environment to environment — and not being held to the ideas of the former context.

Timestamps:

• 2:09: What drove Dr. Hardy towards writing
• 4:26: The various ways writers write
• 7:28: The personality test that could have changed everything
• 13:52: Poking the bear on profiling
• 17:40: Disruption — and knowing when it’s coming
• 19:20: Looking at you former self
• 23:30: A conversation with your future self
• 29:42: All progress starts by telling the truth
• 32:34: What would your future self say to your former self? 
• 33:44: Personality is a skill
• 37:02: Going big on firsts

Resources:

• Gordon Livingston: “Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart"
• James Allen: “As a Man Thiketh”
• Dan Sullivan: The Gap and the Gain
• Nick Nanton
• Dan Gilbert: “The Psychology of Your Future Self” 
• Matthew McConaughey 
• Keith Ferrazzi: “Co-elevation"

Connect with Ross:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Moonshot Innovation 

Michael Keane is a Strategic Innovative Change Director and managing partner of the Sierra Institute. Host Ross Thornley speaks with Michael about the capability of repackaging a product, mitigating the risks of getting caught not looking ahead, and how capability can grow naturally over time. The pair also discuss creating plausible scenarios instead of strategic planning and how AQ will expose a great many people that don’t have opposable thumbs. 

Timestamps:

• :51: Who is Michael Keane — in his own words
• 4:14: Looking back on past accomplishments and learning experiences 
• 10:09: How to use the strategy of being humane even when it’s not well thought-out 
• 11:55: The balance of leaders struggling to communicate with their teams
• 16:04: Organizations that have transformed their skills well 
• 20:35: The type of talent and skills needed in the workforce in order to thrive
• 24:43: Strategic learning isn’t about predicting the future
• 27:34: Tips to implement and improve plausible scenarios 
• 30:43: Things that have inspired Michael — and the way he thinks
• 32:16: Why talent is innate and not only developed
• 37:08: How organizations can do better in the face of challenges

Resources:

• The Sierra Institute 
• The Art of the Longview
• XPRIZE
• Elliot Jaques: “Human Capability"

Connect with Ross:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Moonshot Innovation 

Host Ross Thornley talks about adaptability requiring vulnerability — as does learning. Being deeply optimistic about humans, Heather McGowan reflects upon getting in touch with your identity — and leadership within this new normal. She also discusses how humans are transitioning away from universal income without any obligations and why learning is the new pension.

Timestamps:

• 1:12: Who is Heather McGowan — in her own words
• 2:48: The transition from corporate work to writing and speaking
• 5:55: Identity — and challenges of adapting that for the future
• 11:00: Different aspects of leadership
• 14:58: Exploration and exploitation in value creation
• 21:08: Successfully pivoting in dire times
• 24:07: Lighting a fire of ambition versus a burning platform
• 28:45: Tips for adapting a life-long learning culture
• 32:32: Heather’s motivation for writing her new book on adaptability 
• 36:09: The skills we need to thrive in this pace of change
• 40:46: Looking forward to a productive year — and what it looks like

References:

• Heather E. McGowan — "The Adaption Advantage"
• Benjamin Hardy — “Willpower Doesn’t Work”
• Jim Kouzes — "The Leadership Challenge"
• Dan Sullivan — Strategic Coach
• Barry O’Reilly 

Connect with Ross:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Moonshot Innovation 

With an intense curiosity on perception, Dr. Diane Hamilton touches on the four main things that hold people back, why empathy springs from asking questions, and how she’s helping organizations achieve more success through the Curiosity Code Index.

Timestamps:

• 1:15: Who is Dr. Hamilton, in her own words
• 3:34: Interesting people Dr. Hamilton has interviewed
• 5:07: Naveen Jain
• 7:21: What shaped the progression of Dr. Hamilton
• 8:49: Answers aren’t important — it’s the question
• 11:15: Opportunities to ask questions due to COVID-19
• 15:46: Is curiosity addictive?
• 19:15: Companies that are leveraging curiosity
• 25:03: Overcoming challenges to curiosity in the corporate world
• 31:09: Resiliency and unlearning
• 36:13: Dr. Hamilton’s vision for curiosity being embedded in businesses 
• 39:34: Who can collaborate with Dr. Hamilton? 
• 44:06: How to contact Dr. Hamilton

References: 

• Dr. Diane Hamilton’s website
• “Take the Lead” radio show
• Cracking the Curiosity Code
• Dan Sullivan — Strategic Coach

Connect with Ross:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Moonshot Innovation