Dig Deeper

Have you ever felt uncertain about your career path or questioned whether your empathetic leadership style is a strength or a weakness?

Or maybe you’ve wondered if it’s okay to embrace a non-linear, “squiggly” career while still finding success and fulfillment.

In this episode, we dive deep into the power of following your gut, embracing a career that doesn’t follow the traditional path, and leading with vulnerability and empathy.

If you’ve ever worried about being ‘too nice’ as a leader, or if you’re facing burnout and wondering how to recharge, this conversation will help you uncover how to honour your values while carving your own path.

Jodi Willocks has a background in marketing and advertising. With 21 jobs in 26 years, she has a hugely diverse range of experiences that give her a unique perspective on leadership. She’s also a co-founder of the Women of Pōneke movement, and is an exquisite writer on leadership and career topics.

In our conversation, we explore:

1. Why empathy is a strength, not a weakness, in leadership
2. The importance of trusting your instincts and following a non-linear career path
3. How embracing vulnerability can unlock more authentic and effective leadership
4. What Jodi learned from leading through COVID and how it transformed her approach

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introducing Jodi Willocks

(04:45) - The Foundation of Authentic Leadership

(10:05) - The Impact of COVID on Leadership

(17:54) - Navigating Career Breaks and Burnout

(28:58) - Discovering Creativity Through Blogging

(34:43) - The Importance of Recovery and Recharge

(42:58) - The Sanctuary, Sandpit, and Stage Framework

(50:13) - Ingredients for Successful Leadership

You can find Jodi at:

Website: https://www.careerjourneying.nz/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-willocks-6b035446/

Women of Pōneke: https://www.womenofponeke.org.nz/

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In this final episode of Dig Deeper for 2024, I’m reflecting on the key themes I’ve explored in the podcast and my blogs throughout the year. I'll cover four themes:

1. the importance of discomfort for growth
2. the shift from a hero to a host mindset in leadership
3. the necessity of creating space for reflection
4. the power of letting go of control.

Each theme has insights from previous podcast guests and excerpts from my writing, and some questions for you to take away and reflect on.

Links:

Fire, by Judy Brown: https://www.judysorumbrown.com/blog/breathing-space

The Let Go: https://www.digbyscott.com/thoughts/the-let-go

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Do you ever feel hamstrung by the rules you’re bound by? The have-to’s and should’s and the ‘don’t-do-that’s’ that govern your work practices and broader life? Do you ever wonder what things would be like if you could change the rules of the game?

Rules are invented. They're made up. Which means they can be uninvented, or reinvented. Today’s conversation with behaviouralist and facilitator Suzanne Rosa explores the importance of identifying, challenging, and changing the rules to serve the purpose we’re here for.

After listening, you’ll have a fresh way of thinking about how you can unlock new ways of working and living to create more of what matters.

Suzanne was born in England and now lives in Sydney. She had a really tough upbringing: born deaf, she had multiple operations to restore her hearing. Then she lived in a truck travelling around Europe before becoming a foster child and then a homeless teenager. All of this led her to dig deeply into life's range of emotions and explore how we can utilise all that living has to offer. She's the author of two books, A Flourishing Mind, and Sleeping Giants. She can be summed up in three words: energy, curiosity, and ferocity.

In this conversation, we explore:

1. How our perception and lenses shape the meaning we make of the world
2. There is no one truth, and why it's important to question our own perspective
3. How societal conditioning often limits our ability to pioneer and think outside the box
4. How listening to our own signals and questioning the rules that hold us back can create conditions for a pioneering spirit
5. The importance of questioning societal norms and rules
6. How to take time to regather and ground yourself before embarking on new chapters of personal growth.

You can find Suzanne at:

1. Website: https://suzannerosa.com/
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannewaldron/?originalSubdomain=au

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Join the Career Break community https://www.digbyscott.com/careerbreak

1. Follow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

Leadership is a journey of constant tension – between expectation and authenticity, between comfort and courage, between being liked and being effective. What if you could transform those tensions into your greatest source of strength?

Join me for an extraordinary conversation with Sir Ashley Bloomfield, a leader who navigated one of the most challenging leadership landscapes in recent history. During New Zealand's COVID-19 response, he became the face of national resilience, embodying leadership under unprecedented pressure.

In this personal and candid episode, Sir Ashley pulls back the curtain on the raw, unfiltered realities of leadership. We'll explore the delicate balance between personal conviction and public expectation, the art of making tough decisions when the whole world is watching, and how to maintain your humanity while bearing immense responsibility.

In this episode, we dive deep into the heart of leadership, exploring:

1. Leadership as Inspiration: How an unexpected source – the beloved character Ted Lasso – provided unexpected wisdom during New Zealand's most challenging times
2. The Leadership Landscape: Navigating the complex terrain of modern leadership, from the rise of populism to the critical importance of empowering others
3. The Transformative Power of Agency: Understanding how true leadership is about creating space for others to act, not just directing from the top
4. The Courage of Vulnerability: Why saying "I don't know" is sometimes the most powerful leadership statement you can make
5. The Dangerous Allure of Simplicity: Unpacking why quick fixes and simplistic solutions can be more harmful than helpful in complex challenges
6. Adaptability as a Leadership Superpower: Exploring how continuous learning and flexibility are essential in our rapidly changing world
7. The Nuanced Art of Kindness: Discovering the critical difference between being "nice" and being truly kind in leadership
8. Decision-Making Decoded: Balancing the drive to be decisive with the wisdom of thoughtful, inclusive decision-making processes
9. Leadership Under Pressure: Understanding why personal conviction must often triumph over personal comfort
10. The Ripple Effect: How principled leadership can transform not just organisations, but entire communities

Get ready for a conversation that goes beyond traditional leadership advice – this is leadership unpacked, unfiltered, and deeply human.

These insights promise to challenge your understanding of leadership, offering a fresh, nuanced perspective that goes beyond traditional leadership advice.

You can follow Sir Ashley on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-bloomfield-knzm-cminstd-b7181b17/

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Do you ever feel the need to be the leader with all the answers?

Do you feel the relentless pressure to bow to the barrage of deliverables that are in front of you every day?

Do you wish you could just get some space?

There’s got to be a better way, right?

This episode is gold if you’re looking for a better way to sustain your own and your people’s performance and growth.

James Miller is an executive coach and host of a rural accommodation business. What’s common to both of these roles is the importance of creating the space for others to breathe out, reflect, and get perspective. James is an absolute master at this.

In this episode, we explore:

1. How, as corporate leader, James dealt with the pressures of having to conform, and how he found freedom and space to be himself during that period
2. Why staying in a job that doesn't serve you can harm your confidence and sense of value.
3. Ways to create the balance between ‘delivery’ and ‘discovery’
4. How to navigate the liminal space, the space between ‘no longer’ and ‘not yet’, and why it’s a critical part of the process of creating what's next.
5. How James has created spaciousness and a sense of unhurriedness in his everyday life, and how that has led to greater creativity, productivity, and fulfillment.
6. The courage needed to make decisions that align with your values and contribute to personal growth and why it’s essential for long-term fulfillment.
7. How hosting others and creating environments that support personal growth can be transformative for both the host and the guests.
8. The power of being present and fully engaged in conversations, creating a space for others to feel heard and valued.
9. Why every day needs to be interesting and different!

You can find James at:

1. Website https://www.idlewildbridgetown.com.au/
2. LinkedIn

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Have you ever wished you could take a career break?

If you’re finding yourself at a career crossroads, or you’re simply seeking more fulfillment and satisfaction from your work, this episode is for you. You’ll see what can be made possible when you get deliberate about creating spaces between the chapters of your career, and learn how to structure ‘time out’ to make the most of your breaks and set a meaningful direction for a well-lived life.

Katie Hair is a career coach, consultant, and facilitator intent on aligning her career with the life she wants to lead. She’s a role model for living a life by design. Her mission is to help others do the same. Together, Katie and I explore:

1. Why taking intentional breaks in your career can lead to personal growth and reinvention.
2. How being deliberate and intentional during breaks can lead to a better understanding of oneself and one's values.
3. The necessity of listening to your inner voice and taking risks to break free from constraints and pursue a desired life path.
4. How the concept of a portfolio career, where individuals have multiple income streams and work on their own terms, is gaining popularity.
5. The need and invitation for organisations to support individuals in pursuing alternative work models and provide autonomy and flexibility.

Check out Katie’s work at https://www.katiehair.co.nz/ and follow her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiehair/

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What happens when you slow down?

If you feel like life is a relentless treadmill, this episode offers an alternative. You’ll get fresh perspectives about what can happen when you unhook from relentless busyness, and an invitation to explore what really matters when it comes to leading yourself and others.

Andrew Maffett is a lifelong adventurer and learner. He recently retired from a successful business life and now lives on his yacht with his wife Donna sailing around South East Asia. From the perspective of someone who has been a driven business leader, Andrew offers his insights and advice around:

1. The cost of busyness in modern society
2. How creating space for stillness and empty times attracts new experiences and insights.
3. What happens when you remove obligations, deadlines, and ‘having somewhere to be next’
4. How honoring our inner pioneering spirit allows us to lead more authentically
5. The power of curiosity to drive learning and growth, and how it has shaped his career and leadership style
6. Why leadership is more than simply driving to achieve goals, and the importance of developing others

You can follow Andrew and Donna on Instagram at @chasing._.horizons

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How effectively can you bring out the best in a group of people?

We can often get trapped into thinking that it’s our role to be the ‘hero’ for a group, where it’s likely that you can be way more effective by being the ‘host’. This episode will help you get out of your own way so you can unlock the potential that exists in those you lead.

Today I’m talking with creative producer and speaker coach D.K. about:

1. Why avoiding the mundane and embracing creativity is essential for effective leadership
2. How the role of a pioneer involves venturing into unexplored territory and creating space for others to follow…
3. …and the role of a host involves facilitating meaningful experiences that fully involves others
4. Why empathy, voice, and participation are essential elements in group settings
5. The power of grace in communication and the significance of quieting one's cleverness
6. The power of simply sitting and being together

You can find D.K. at https://justadandak.com/

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Can we ever obtain a fully productive work life, or a fully productive organisation? What does that even mean? This rich conversation with impact coach and business consultant Danni Ermilova Williams will give you a fresh perspective on how to reshape work to create more meaningful, sustaining experiences.

Danni and I explore what it means to live and work well. We dig deep into how we put unseen limits in place and how we can create space for busting those limits for ourselves and our organisational cultures so we can get on with doing and being what matters most. We explore the idea of control versus surrender, and how the power of language can limit us, or open us up to new possibilities.

You can find Danni at Website | LinkedIn

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What's your relationship like with discomfort? What about asking for feedback? Both of these things are essential to get our heads around if we're going to find our own way to lead and thrive in life.

This entertaining, thought-provoking conversation with Callum McKirdy will help you to become more comfortable with being uncomfortable. You’ll learn:

1. Why the fear of feedback stems from the disconnect between how we see ourselves and how others see us
2. How allowing people into our worlds and being vulnerable is the next big thing in breaking down barriers
3. How leadership is about facilitating an environment for others to bring their best and be their best (but not necessarily to be comfortable)
4. How letting go of control and embracing discomfort can lead to growth and new possibilities
5. That discomfort is not inherently bad; it can be a catalyst for self-reflection and change

You can find Callum at Website | LinkedIn

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