CEO Coach David Deane-Spread and I explore many elements of leadership in this week's podcast including what he learned about courage and vulnerability in the military, balancing transactional and transformational work, shiny object syndrome, situational and self awareness and why leadership is lonely, involves giving credit and taking blame.

Mark is off on two weeks holiday this week and reflects on why we seem to be so affected by the FOMO of work. He shares some real life examples of this, the pitfalls of 'Work FOMO' and why turning a mindset to 'Work JOMO' will be better for all the humans in your life.

CEO Coach David Deane-Spread and I explore many elements of leadership in this week's podcast including what he learned about courage and vulnerability in the military, balancing transactional and transformational work, shiny object syndrome, situational and self awareness and why leadership is lonely, involves giving credit and taking blame.

Karen Brown knew at 14 that she wanted to be a pharmacist and now is at the forefront of challenging perceptions and the status quo of what it is to be a pharmacist. We talk about the importance of upbringing, community, leadership, belonging, fun, trust, and why pharmacists are more than a place for me to buy my bag of jellybeans. There are so many leadership and life lessons for everyone here in this conversation.

Mark's Podcast editor Andy Maher gave him the gift of feedback last week and it forms the basis of this week's solo podcast on why feedback is a gift, and why you should both ask for and give feedback regularly. Mark shares his thoughts on building feedback fitness, using this in real-life situations (performance reviews anyone), and what to avoid when giving feedback. Oh, and he leaves you with a BIG question to answer.

Author and Prof. of Psychology at NYU Tessa West has both practiced and witnessed 'jerkery' in the workplace and shares the 7 Types of Workplace Jerks, why jerks might not know they're being jerks (and how to help them see it) and how to see the signs that you may be practice a type of work 'jerkery'. You can take Tessa's quiz on either 'jerk or ally' or buy the book 'Jerks At Work' here https://www.tessawestauthor.com/

Mark has a real issue with the term soft skills and after this episode and you will too. He suggests that the terms 'soft' and 'hard' are yesterday's descriptors, and shares some descriptions of both that will have you shaking your head. He concludes that there is power in creating new terms for these important skills and that there is much to be gained by combining them as a manager.

Nat Phillips-Mason is a change practitioner who has a passion for using change methodology to make real progress on embracing neurodiversity at both work and in the world. She shares her thoughts on why humans with lived experience and not observed experience should drive the change program, why current language like 'normal', 'deficits', and 'fixing' is not useful, and how listening to understand will change the game on both the employee and customer values propositions.

Mark explores why it's 'we, us, and I' when things are going well and 'they and them' when they're going not so well. He ponders where these mythical workplace creatures 'them and they' come from, and why humans do this. Crystal balls, accepting one's part in the mess, and pity parties all get a mention in this episode, and some ways to combat taking the easy way out by absolving yourself of accountability.

Darius Boyd shares his lived experience with mental health and why it is important to seek support instead of remaining silent. Darius shares his three practical tips on how to create space for a conversation.