Summary

In this conversation, Dan Pontefract discusses his journey as a leadership strategist, focusing on the importance of emotional intelligence, culture change, and the impact of nurturing curiosity within organisations. He shares insights from his experience at TELUS, where he helped transform the corporate culture and introduced innovative programs like the TELUS MBA.

The discussion emphasises the need for a unified leadership philosophy and the significance of treating employees with kindness and respect to foster a thriving workplace. In this conversation, Dominic Monkhouse reflects on the evolution of corporate culture and leadership, emphasising the importance of emotional intelligence, collaboration, and a unified purpose within organisations. He discusses the identity crises faced by companies like Starbucks and Wells Fargo, highlighting the need for leaders to foster a culture of learning and development.

Dominic also shares insights from his books and recent readings, advocating for a more human-centric approach to leadership and work-life dynamics.

Takeaways

• Emotional intelligence is crucial for effective leadership.
• Organisations often promote individuals without considering their EQ.
• Culture change requires a unified leadership philosophy.
• Learned helplessness can hinder organisational growth.
• Leaders should focus on developing their teams.
• A supportive work environment fosters collaboration and innovation.
• Work-life balance is not always achievable; it's about blooming.
• The canoe metaphor illustrates the need for aligned leadership.
• CEOs play a significant role in shaping organisational culture.
• Continuous learning is essential for personal and professional growth.

Chapters

(00:00) Building Bridges: The Journey Begins

(03:14) Leadership Strategies: Transforming Organizations

(05:54) Culture Change: Lessons from TELUS

(09:11) The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

(11:52) Learned Helplessness: A Barrier to Growth

(14:47) Nurturing Curiosity: The Key to Engagement

(18:07) Creating a Unified Culture: The TELUS Leadership Philosophy

(20:53) Measuring Success: Engagement and Performance Metrics

(27:04) Reflecting on Leadership and Culture

(29:00) The Identity Crisis of Corporations

(31:22) The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

(33:42) Collaboration and Constructive Conflict

(35:59) The Shift from Know-it-alls to Learn-it-alls

(39:54) The Role of Leaders in Team Development

(40:50) Exploring the Books of Dominic Monkhouse

(44:30) Navigating Work-Life Dynamics

(46:51) Recent Reads and Inspirations

(49:39) Quickfire Questions and Insights

About Dan Pontefract

Dan is an award-winning author, leadership strategist, culture change expert, and renowned keynote speaker. His books and keynotes are a great starting point for transforming your team or corporate culture into a competitive advantage.

His five books include WORK-LIFE BLOOM, LEAD. CARE. WIN., OPEN TO THINK, THE PURPOSE EFFECT, and FLAT ARMY.

WORK-LIFE BLOOM won the 2024 Axiom Business Book Gold Medal in the Leadership Category and is one of the Thinkers50 Top New Management Books for 2024.

LEAD. CARE. WIN. won the 2022 Nautilus Book Awards Silver Medal in the Leadership/Business category. It was a short-list finalist for the 2021 getAbstract International Book of the Year.

OPEN TO THINK won the 2019 getAbstract International Book of the Year and the 2019 Axiom Business Book Silver Medal winner in the Leadership Category.

Dan has presented at four different TED events and also writes for Forbes and Harvard Business Review.

Previously as Chief Envisioner and Chief Learning Officer at TELUS, he launched the Transformation Office, the TELUS MBA, and the TELUS Leadership Philosophy, all award-winning initiatives that dramatically helped to increase the company’s employee engagement to record levels of nearly 90%. Prior to TELUS, he held senior roles at SAP, Business Objects, and BCIT.

Mentioned in this episode:

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