Leanne Hughes' Work and Live Large

Join us today as we learn how to cultivate serendipity so we can live life while creating impact and value day by day.

Watch our conversation on YouTube!

Whether we admit it or not, most of us fear the unexpected. It scares us, for we have no idea on what’s about to come. It makes us feel disorganized as if we’re straying away from our plan. But things that come out of nowhere can also be an inflection point to something great, to something interesting. See every situation as a growth opportunity and you’ll experience serendipity as you live.

Today, we’re joined by Dr. Christian Busch, the author of the book “The Serendipity Mindset: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck”. He’s the Director of Global Economy Program at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs where he teaches on purpose-driven leadership, impact, entrepreneurship, innovation, and emerging markets. 

He is a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics, and the Co-Founder of Leaders on Purpose, an organization convening high-impact leaders, as well as the Sandbox Network, a global community of young innovators active in over 20 countries. Previously, Dr. Christian served on the faculty of the LSE Department of Management and as the Inaugural Deputy Director of the LSE Innovation Center.

He’s been featured on many TEDx Talks. I recently watched one of the TEDx Talks he was in, and it was so fantastic; I’ve decided to invite him here. Join me as we learn from what Christian has to share today.

 In this conversation, you’ll hear Dr. Christian discuss:

• What it actually means to cultivate a serendipity mindset
• The difference between blind luck and smart luck
• The fear of missing out
• The contrast between planning and being open to opportunities
• The dynamics between being an introvert and an extrovert
• How introverts can cultivate more serendipity in their life
• Rapid Round

I'd love to see you in California in Feb 2023!

Find out all the details about the Talent Development Think Tank conference.

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
Thanks for being here. See you next week.

There's so much content available, but what are we actually doing with it? 

Today's episode is created for you, but it's also an important reminder for me. I'm addicted to listening, reading and learning new things, it's like an endless search for a silver bullet.

How though, do we absorbing information and all of this cool stuff that’s online take action on it?  and actually taking action on it.  How do we draw that line between I'm consuming all this information, but what am I actually doing with it?  

We are bombarded every single day by webinars to join, new books to read, new podcast episodes to listen to, new conference to attend. It’s inspiring! It can also get dangerous when we confuse consuming with creating - that’s when consumption can stall your progress.

That's what I'm exploring today, using the power of a two-by-two matrix.

Right now, where are you on this matrix: A Thought Breeder, a Thought Bleeder, a Thought Leader, or a Thought Reader? Let me know!

I'd love to see you in California in Feb 2023!

Find out all the details about the Talent Development Think Tank conference.

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
Thanks for being here. See you next week.

Two weeks ago, I posted a mini rant on LinkedIn. A ton of people commented and also messaged me privately afterwards, with their experiences with employee engagement surveys.

I’ve expanded on the thoughts here in this article and also share some alternatives on what you can do, instead.

I'm curious, what's your experience been with these type of surveys? Let me know in the comments.

Here's what I heard publicly: 

• “These employee engagement surveys always seem such tick box exercises, it's hard to get passionate about them. I also dislike the fact that they have to be anonymous. They should offer anonymity as an option but sometimes it's also nice to receive direct feedback based on my responses (both positive and constructive) and definitely to see actions based on my responses. What's the point in me making honest comments otherwise?” Jack Wilkinson
• “The feedback survey one is particularly galling and falls under "we should do these things to try and keep the staff happy, but we can't change anything, maybe we should have a pizza party, that makes staff happy right?”- Derek Van Tonder 
• “Seen it all” - Mike Oskam

I’ve expanded on the thoughts here in this podcast episode and also share some alternatives on what you can do, instead.

I'm curious, what's your experience been with these type of surveys? Let me know!

I'd love to see you in California in Feb 2023!

Find out all the details about the Talent Development Think Tank conference.

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
Thanks for being here. See you next week.

So many experts and thought leaders tell me that I must "add value" in my relationships. What does this actually mean?

Watch the YouTube walkthrough here.

I think there's an incorrect assumption that "adding value" means sharing content, wisdom and advice.

In this 10min episode, I share the other factor we need to consider to really add value in our interactions.

Enjoy the listen! I'd love to hear how you add value, and what this phrase means to you?

I'd love to see you in California in Feb 2023!

Find out all the details about the Talent Development Think Tank conference.

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
Thanks for being here. See you next week.

On last week’s episode of Two by Tuesday, we talked about the 2x2 matrix of competence and joy with regards to our work. The top left of that box – the trap quadrant – says a lot about us, being highly competent in something, but that something doesn’t give us the joy that we need in life.

So today, I invited someone who can help us out if we’re stuck in doing a lot of work in that trap area. Join us today as we learn to live with more fulfillment, joy, and ease while still being ambitious.

Watch our conversation on YouTube!

What are your ambitions in life?

More often than not, when we reach our 40s, we start to go through this transition wherein our ambitions change. Some find it hard to navigate this, given that the culture of our workplace doesn’t change as we are, but to cut the dissatisfaction, we need to embrace the change that’s happening within.

But the question is how? How do we allow ourselves to fully step into life and work in the way that we want while also sustaining ourselves in the long run?

Discover the answer to that question as we dive into this episode with Kathy.

Kathy Oneto is an executive and leadership coach, a career strategist, and a strategy and marketing professional. She hosts the podcast called Sustainable Ambition. Also, she is the founder and chief strategist at The Agency Oneto.

Kathy’s mission is to help leaders and professionals get in touch with their personal aspirations and ambitions to find their own success and find more ease, so that they can make an impact and realize their full potential. Her strength is working with ambitious individuals who want both fulfilling professional and personal lives and help them be great leaders

In this conversation, you’ll hear Kathy and I discuss:

• How we achieve sustainable ambition
• How we focus on the things that matter most to us and do it in a way where we feel like the work that we’re doing is actually something that matters
• Her insights on the adult development and growth journey as we get older
• How to navigate our shifting priorities in life as well as work
• How she takes action on an idea
• What to pay attention to if you’re trying to navigate a transition
• How to plan for periods in our lives that last for around 12-18 months

I'd love to see you in California in Feb 2023!

Find out all the details about the Talent Development Think Tank conference.

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
Thanks for being here. See you next week.

You’ve launched a mentoring program in your business. Congrats! Through the first few months of check-ins, you discover that your pairings are meeting together. 

Then, after three months, you notice the enthusiasm has waned a little. Meetings become less frequent. Business priorities take over.

If you’re in this situation, don’t be alarmed. It’s what I prescribe as Mentor Fade. It’s completely normal.

So, what can you do instead? In this sharp, 10 min episode, I share a cool approach to creating more friendtor relationships in your business (thanks to Jenny Blake for sharing that awesome word on her Pivot podcast).

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For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this channel by subscribing, it would mean a lot!

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. 

Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
Thanks for being here. 

I'd love to see you in California in Feb 2023!

Find out all the details about the Talent Development Think Tank conference.

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
Thanks for being here. See you next week.

Today's question is what type of work tasks should you stop/start as part of your work day?

Watch this walk-through on YouTube.

Let's talk about the two important elements. 

I think they are:

• Competence (low vs high) and
• Joy (low vs high)

Which quadrant demands most of your time during a work week?

Two by Tuesday is a weekly segment on Leanne Hughes' Work and Live Large Podcast (https://podcast.leannehughes.com)

Subscribe to Leanne's weekly mailout: https://leannehughes.com/subscribe

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this channel by subscribing, it would mean a lot!

I'd love to see you in California in Feb 2023!

Find out all the details about the Talent Development Think Tank conference.

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
Thanks for being here. See you next week.

In this episode, I'm joyfully bringing you a conversation with the author of the book “Belonging: The Ancient Code of Togetherness”, Owen Eastwood.

Watch our conversation on YouTube!

Have you been in work situations where you might have started in a company and you just didn’t feel like you belonged, which then led to a lot of stress and tension? Join us as we learn how to create a sense of belonging with the Belonging author, Owen Eastwood.

Owen draws on his own Maori ancestry and weaves together insights from our evolutionary story and our collective wisdom as he helps people create a sense of belonging, especially in workplaces. Owen shines a light on where these powerful ideas are applied around the world in high performing settings, encompassing sports, business, the arts, and military.

In this conversation, you’ll hear Owen and I discuss: 

• His book, “Belonging: The Ancient Code of Togetherness”
• What the concept of Whakapapa is all about
• How he felt when he was called in to create an intervention for the South African cricket team
• How to create a collective feeling of belonging
• Why he dispels the myth that we all, as individuals, need a purpose
• The impact of environment and how that affects your ability to be resilient and to feel like you belong
• Our central nervous system (the cues that our body gives us)
• Rapid round

Conversation moments:

(00:00:35) Introduction + Talking about today’s guest and his book

(00:04:06) Some stories about his intervention at the camp of the South African cricket team, the Proteas

(00:08:06) Make them listen to themselves: Having the brutal honesty come out of the conversation

(00:10:43) From being a lawyer to then working with different teams

(00:11:33) Owen’s advice on how to create a sense of belonging and connection: “Build relationships”

(00:14:31) What the Maori concept whakapapa is all about + the definition of a strong culture

(00:17:47) Why Owen doesn’t believe that we need a purpose at an individual level

(00:27:43) The central nervous system: Our body’s cues and why we should pay attention to each

(00:34:45) Rapid Round

 Notes/Mentions:

• Belonging: The Ancient Code of Togetherness
• Leap of Perception: The Transforming Power of Your Attention

 Connect with Owen Eastwood:

• Owen on LinkedIn

 Rapid Round Recommendations:

• Book: Sacred Hoops by Phil Jackson
• Song: My Hometown by Bruce Springsteen
• Quote: “Never judge a day at lunchtime.” – Owen’s mother

I'd love to see you in California in Feb 2023!

Find out all the details about the Talent Development Think Tank conference.

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
Thanks for being here. See you next week.

Something I've deliberately tried to improve over the last couple of years is improving my ability to connect quotes, stories and examples in the moment. 

It started when I was hosting my first podcast, and wanted to connect my guest's responses with something they had said earlier, or with something relating to their career, or to push the conversation in a new direction.

It's a handy skill when you facilitate workshops as well - having that ability to connect participants' responses to the content, or with what someone else said earlier that day.

In this week's Two by Tuesday, I share four ways I've improved at this skill but believe me, I can do better!

How do you recall information in the moment?

I'd love to see you in California in Feb 2023!

Find out all the details about the Talent Development Think Tank conference.

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
Thanks for being here. See you next week.

All of us here have our own dreams that we want to pursue, but due to the fear that’s holding us back, most of the time, we don’t really put an effort into moving.

That’s why in today’s episode, I’ve invited someone who’s gone from being a nobody to becoming bigger and better. Join me as I interview the ‘shirtless’ flag bearer.

Watch our conversation on YouTube!

How do you live and succeed in a life that is centered on doing things that you truly love?

Most people start their goals so high that they immediately fall into darkness when things don’t turn out fine. There are people who are too afraid to take action because of the limiting belief they have inside. Some people tend to give up when things get ‘too’ hard. But remember, each day is a reset, and every day, you’re given the blessing to try again.

Your conviction is your armor. Wear it and fight your demons.

Pita Taufatofua is a Tongan athlete in taekwondo and cross-country skiing. He has represented these sports three times across summer and winter Olympics.

He is the founder of TongaStrong, and has a passion in helping provide opportunities for the youth of the Pacific. He is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the Pacific, and is a Team Samsung Galaxy athlete who lives in Brisbane Australia.

Pita and I met back in high school. I love how he is a person who is just so funny and intelligent, but is also so giving and down-to-earth at the same time. It’s just amazing to see the level of growth and influence that he has had just since we’re leaving high school.

In this conversation, you’ll hear Pita discuss:

• What happened on that night of his first Rio Olympics that changed his life in an exponential way
• His approach to working out and creating discipline
• His ability to be fearless
• The process he goes by as he puts effort to achieve his goals
• A skill everyone needs to master
• The idea of failing happy in relation to his kayaking experience

I'd love to see you in California in Feb 2023!

Find out all the details about the Talent Development Think Tank conference.

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
Thanks for being here. See you next week.