What if the most powerful thing you could do as a leader isn't delivering results or driving change—but simply seeing and hearing the people around you?

Today I'm joined by Jenny Brown. Jenny grew up in apartheid South Africa, classified as a ‘coloured’ person, where she learned what it means to navigate between worlds—not quite belonging fully anywhere, but developing an extraordinary ability to see and be in the spaces between.

She’s got this superpower to read what's really happening in a room - not just what's being said, but what's being felt, what's being avoided, and what needs to be addressed.

She’s also learned to call out what needs to be called out, doing so with a skillfulness that keeps people whole. She understands that leadership isn't about having all the answers - it's about creating space for others to be truly seen and heard.

If you've ever wondered how to create genuine belonging in your organisation, or how your own formative experiences might become your leadership superpower, this conversation will change how you think about what leadership really means.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - The Power of Observation in Leadership

(18:01) - The Journey from Independence to Interdependence

(24:05) - Navigating Difficult Conversations

(27:00) - Calling Out BS with Compassion

(34:18) - Creating Conditions for Belonging

(40:47) - The Broader Impact of Belonging

Other references:

1. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
2. Together by Dr Vivek Murthi
3. Belonging by Owen Eastwood
4. Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott
5. A Leader’s Guide to Reflective Practice by Judy Brown
6. Work Human 2023 Study
7. Gallup Employee Engagement Survey
8. What’s Your Bit? by Digby Scott

You can find Jenny at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-b-aa8ba958/

Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/

Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribe

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